The two-day IInvenTiv 2026 innovation fair opened at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on Monday, with Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar describing it as a key platform bringing together research, innovation, investment and policy to support India’s push towards a developed economy.
Photo:SNS
The two-day IInvenTiv 2026 innovation fair opened at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on Monday, with Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar describing it as a key platform bringing together research, innovation, investment and policy to support India’s push towards a developed economy.
The inaugural session also saw the launch of the Wadhwani Innovation Network Centre of Excellence and Project ReNew Surya, along with the showcasing of over 150 innovations across sectors including artificial intelligence, healthcare, semiconductor technology, material sciences and earth sciences.
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Addressing the gathering, the Governor said such platforms help translate research into real-world outcomes, enabling a transition from laboratory innovation to enterprise, employment and national development. He said India must strengthen its capabilities in technology, energy and strategic sectors to remain globally competitive in a rapidly changing world.
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Referring to national initiatives, he said programmes such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, Startup India, Make in India, Digital India and the National Education Policy 2020 are creating a strong foundation for innovation-led growth, and urged young people to contribute to nation-building through knowledge, discipline and creativity.
Organisers said IInvenTiv 2026 is designed as a feeder platform to Bharat Innovates 2026, bringing together academic institutions, startups, investors and industry stakeholders to accelerate the commercialisation of research and technology.
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Director Sukumar Mishra said the initiative aims to create a seamless pipeline through which innovations can be validated, scaled and connected to industry and global markets.
A major highlight of the event was the inauguration of ReNew’s Centre of Excellence, which will expand clean energy skills for communities in coal-dependent regions. The programme builds on an earlier pilot that trained more than 350 women from coal-mining areas in solar technologies.
The next phase will train over 500 candidates from Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh in solar photovoltaic installation, project management, and operations and maintenance, with a focus on enabling transition to renewable energy livelihoods.
The Wadhwani Innovation Network Centre of Excellence on Critical Minerals, also launched during the event, will focus on research, innovation and capacity building in sectors linked to clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
The first day featured plenary sessions on semiconductors, artificial intelligence, material sciences, healthcare innovation and earth sciences. The concluding day will include startup pitching sessions, academia-to-business matchmaking and discussions on innovation ecosystems and digital public infrastructure, organisers said.
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