Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati BioNEST, in collaboration with the BRICS Youth Council, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (Government of India), and the Global Counter-Terrorism Council, is organizing a Pre-Consultation Event on Entrepreneurship on February 7, 2025. The event will be honored by the presence of Shri Kausar Jamil Hilaly, IAS, Secretary of the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, Government of Assam, who will serve as the Chief Guest. Several notable dignitaries are also expected to attend, including: Shri Adil Khan, Secretary, Transport Department, Government of Assam Shri Deba K. Mishra, Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati Prof. Sukumar Nandi, Dean of Administration, IIT Guwahati Mr. Sagar Daryani, CEO & Co-Founder, Wow! Momo Maj Gen (Retd) Rajesh K Jha, AVSM, Director (Personnel), NEEPCO Rear Admiral Dr. S Kulshrestha, GCTC India With the theme "Empowering Northeast India – Youth Innovations for Sustainable Growth and National Connectivity," this event aims to provide young entrepreneurs, students, and innovators from the region with an opportunity to engage with successful professionals and industry experts. Through insightful discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions, participants will gain valuable perspectives on entrepreneurship and innovation. Prof. Devendra Jalihal highlighted the role of entrepreneurship in developing economies, noting that startups could contribute around 30% to the GDP of emerging markets. He emphasized that BRICS nations benefit significantly from job creation, innovation, and economic advancement driven by entrepreneurship. With Northeast India's young demographic, fostering startups is crucial for regional growth. IIT Guwahati supports this through initiatives like BioNEST. A key highlight of the event is a large-scale startup exhibition by IIT Guwahati-BioNEST, featuring over 80 startups. This platform allows entrepreneurs to showcase ideas and connect with investors, mentors, and industry experts. Additionally, engaging sessions by leaders like Mr. Sagar Daryani, CEO of Wow! Momo, and Maj Gen (Retd) Rajesh K Jha, AVSM, will provide insights into entrepreneurship and life skills. Aligned with India's vision for innovation-driven growth, the event reinforces IIT Guwahati’s commitment to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Hon’ble Prime Minister recently emphasized the importance of AI, the National Quantum Mission, and the Semiconductor Mission in shaping India's future. Dr. Swapnil Sinha, CEO of IIT Guwahati-BioNEST, stressed that the event aims to equip young innovators with essential knowledge and networking opportunities. Students and aspiring entrepreneurs from Northeast India are encouraged to participate. To ensure accessibility, the Assam State Transport Corporation has arranged special bus services across 28 routes for convenient travel to and from IIT Guwahati on the event day.
