The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur kicked off its Impact RISE 2026 conclave on Saturday. The two-day event unfolded at the IIT KGP Research Park in Newtown, Kolkata. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan lit the ceremonial lamp to mark the inauguration.
Forging Futures Through Collaboration
The conclave carries the theme "Forging Futures: Engineering Social Change – Converging Capital, Innovation, and Action." It aims to drive India's sustainable development forward. Ministers, government officials, PSU leaders, scientists, academics, impact investors, and NGOs gathered for the occasion.
Key Launches and Initiatives
The event featured several significant announcements and launches. These align with UN Sustainable Development Goals and national missions.
Highlights included:
- The release of the IIT KGP Impact Portfolio.
- Launch of the Impact RISE Impact Venture Fund.
- Introduction of the Paani Bawni initiative.
- Signing of MoUs with Texmaco Rail & Engineering Limited and the Indian Chamber of Commerce.
The Sus10 Initiatives Take Center Stage
A major focus was the launch of the Sus10 initiatives. This comprehensive package includes:
- 10 new sustainability-focused startups.
- 10 certification programs in sustainability.
- 10 campus development projects aimed at achieving a net-zero campus.
The conclave also introduced the "Catch Them Young" Youth Entrepreneurship Development Program. It will offer annual internships to 500 undergraduates.
Leadership Perspectives on Impact
Professor Suman Chakraborty, Director of IIT Kharagpur, shared his vision. He stated the conclave establishes an annual nexus for outcome-driven, technology-enabled impact partnerships. The goal is to translate science and technology into national solutions for India's pressing challenges.
Sunil Kumar Gupta, IAS (Retd.), Chief of Strategy, Execution & Operations at IIT Kharagpur Research Park, explained their philosophy. He said it is simple yet powerful: Build in our labs, pilot on our campus, and extend solutions to the world – at scale, with accountability, and with purpose.
ISRO Chairman Highlights Space Ambitions
ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan attended the event and emphasized Prime Minister Modi's vision for space sector growth. He outlined ambitious plans for the coming years.
Narayanan noted: "Our current space assets, including satellites, number around 56. However, over the next few years, we aim to expand this capacity threefold, significantly enhancing our space capabilities."
He highlighted key missions on the horizon. "Next year we have to send humans to space and bring them back safely. We also have the Chandrayaan 4 and Chandrayaan 5 missions." Narayanan also stressed the importance of continuing work on basic applications like navigation, communication, and television broadcasting.
He pointed to space sector reforms attracting private startup companies into space activities.
Focus Areas for Sustainable Development
The conclave's agenda covered a wide range of critical areas. These include sustainable rural development, health and sanitation, education and skills, clean energy, and climate resilience. Other topics are ecology, tribal affairs, mobility, CSR 2.0, local governance, and global sustainability frameworks.
The event featured high-level plenary sessions, thematic deep dives, impact leadership talks, and policy discussions. All activities aimed at fostering actionable partnerships and innovative solutions.
