Bengaluru, June 4, 2025 – Global industry leaders have identified artificial intelligence (AI), deep technology, clean technology, and reform-driven governance as the cornerstones of India’s future as an innovation powerhouse. Speaking at the opening day of the India Global Innovation Connect (IGIC) 2025, experts emphasized that India is at a pivotal moment to accelerate its innovation journey.
Held in Bengaluru, the two-day summit brought together a distinguished international delegation comprising technology leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, investors, and academics from countries including the United States, Japan, Germany, Israel, South Korea, Singapore, and France. This year’s summit centers on the theme: “Innovation in the Age of AI: Business, Society and Governance.”
Sessions on the first day delved into the transformative potential of AI and emerging technologies across industries, governance, and society. Key topics included fintech evolution, future of aerospace, AI-driven education, deep science investment, and startup-corporate collaboration.
Claude Smadja, Chairman of Smadja & Smadja Strategic Advisory, remarked that India is uniquely positioned to lead in the global data and AI economy, particularly as other global powers navigate economic and technological headwinds. “India is at a critical inflection point. The momentum is right for it to emerge as a global hub for innovation,” he said.
Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Aarin Capital, highlighted the urgency of adapting education and global collaboration in a world reshaped by AI and quantum computing. “We must build interconnected ecosystems across cities and countries to ensure innovation serves all,” he added, pointing to Bengaluru as a prime example.
Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, emphasized the need for process reforms—beyond structural changes—to improve efficiency and drive impact. He underlined the strategic role of Bengaluru and Karnataka in shaping a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India).
During a session on invisible reforms, Sanjeev Gupta, CEO of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), stressed the importance of system thinking, capacity building, and value-driven digital transformation that directly benefits citizens and industries.
Vic Bhagat, Global Advisor at IT infrastructure services firm Kyndryl, noted that enterprises which effectively integrate AI into their operations will gain a significant competitive edge through automation and productivity gains.
From an investor perspective, Jay Krishnan, Partner at Beyond Next Ventures, spoke about the opportunities and challenges in funding deep science innovations. “We invest early in technologies rooted in science that can transform areas like climate and energy,” he noted.
IGIC 2025 is supported by the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) as a strategic partner, with sponsors including Axilor and Esri India. Knowledge partners include Covington & Burling (USA) and Swissnex, while ecosystem collaborators such as TiE, JETRO, Start2Group, and the Indian Venture Capital Association (IVCA) are also part of the initiative.
The event reaffirms India’s growing role as a central player in the global innovation ecosystem, particularly through platforms like IGIC that enable cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange.
For further details, visit: https://indiaglobalinnovationconnect.com
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