Two days of ministerial keynotes, policy dialogue, roundtables and industry–academia partnerships. Organised by the Higher Education Department, Government of Karnataka.
By Mayank Dhingra, Director & Global Head, Education Business and Strategy, HP Inc
Chaired by: KSHEC & Higher Education Department, Government of Karnataka
Participants:
Chaired by: Shri Ramana Reddy, Chairman of the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA)
Moderator: Arun Kumar Isac, Director – Government and Education, HP India
Speakers:
Panel Docket D1 P2
How can industries and academia co-create learning pathways to build a day-one-ready workforce?
Co-chaired by: Industries Department, Government of Karnataka
Chaired by: Dr. S. Selvakumar, IAS — Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industries Department, Government of Karnataka
Chaired by: Madan Padaki, Managing Trustee, Head Held High Foundation***
Moderator: Prof. Vijaysekhar Chellaboina, Vice Chancellor, JK Lakshmipat University
Speakers:
Chaired by: Karnataka Higher Education Council + Higher Education + Industry
Moderator: Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, CEO, KDEM / Subha Mahata, VP – Talent Accelerator, KDEM
Chair: Kum. Manjushree N., IAS — Commissioner, Department of Collegiate and Technical Education, Government of Karnataka
A focused address by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) highlighting its global higher education initiatives, India-specific projects, and alignment with Karnataka's Higher Education Transformation vision.
The session will outline international best practices, institutional strengthening models, and strategic collaboration driving systemic reforms in higher education.
Speakers:
Agri Universities + Leading Agrotechs + Government Officials.
Moderator: Shri Ashok Dalwai, IAS (Retd) — Chairman, Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission, Government of Karnataka
Speakers:
An open session featuring selected delegates who will take the stage to present their insights, share best practices, and contribute to the larger dialogue.
Moderator: N. N. Rao, Technical Advisor, KSDA
Participants:
Accelerating Innovation from Campus to Corporate Innovation at Scale
This flagship session brings together 3–4 Centers of Excellence that have successfully bridged the gap between academic research and industry application. Each CoE will present its operational model — covering how the centre was conceived in partnership with industry, how curricula and research agendas were co-designed to address specific sectoral talent needs, and what measurable outcomes have been achieved in terms of employability, patents, industry-sponsored projects, and startup incubation.
Presentation cum panel
Chaired by: Dr. N. Manjula, IAS, Secretary, IT & BT Department, Government of Karnataka
Moderator: Dr. Ravi Gupta, CEO & Founder, Elets Technomedia Pvt Ltd
Participants:
Chaired by: Hon'ble Minister of Higher Education
Co-Chair: Shri Ramana Reddy, Chairman of the Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA)
Co-Chair: Smt. Khushboo G Chowdhary, Secretary, Higher Education Department
Moderator: Mr. Vinod Prabhu, Seventh Sense
Session Chair: Dr. Manjula N, IAS, Secretary, ITBT & Industries Department
Moderator: Ajay Krishnan, Vice President – ESDM & Semiconductors, KDEM
Speakers:
How can the BFSI sector shape business education to meet evolving industry and regulatory demands?
Chaired by: Mr Ramesh Kaza
A dedicated showcase spotlighting student entrepreneurs and emerging startups translating ideas into scalable ventures. The session will highlight innovation journeys, product demonstrations, early-stage business models, and institutional incubation support driving entrepreneurial growth. It aims to celebrate campus-born innovation and connect founders with mentors, investors, and industry leaders.
Chaired by: CEO of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission
Speakers:
Moderator: Bharath Chandra BK, AVP, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission
Chaired by: Sanjeev Gupta, KDEM**** (Optional)
How can academia and diverse industries collaborate to instill the communication, adaptability, and professional etiquette required for long-term career success?
Speakers:
Preparing Karnataka's Workforce for International Healthcare & Medical Technology Markets
Speakers: