Pitching research as the backbone of a developed India, Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar on Wednesday asked young students to dream beyond conventional careers and become innovators capable of creating the “unicorns of tomorrow” while inaugurating IISER Kolkata’s Summer Camp 2026.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony at the institute’s Mohanpur campus in Nadia, Majumdar stressed the need to nurture bright young minds and build an inclusive, knowledge-driven nation where innovation remains at the core of development.
Urging students to pursue research and scientific inquiry with an entrepreneurial outlook, he said today’s innovations have the potential to become globally successful enterprises in the future.
The minister also underscored the importance of the North-eastern region in India’s growth story, describing it as one of the country’s greatest strengths because of its rich cultural diversity and knowledge traditions.
He lauded IISER Kolkata for bringing students from the region to a common platform for scientific learning and research exposure.
The week-long residential programme, being held from 15 to 22 July, has brought together 70 students of Classes XI and XII from 53 Kendriya Vidyalayas across the seven North-eastern states.
Organised by IISER Kolkata in collaboration with the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Science City, Kolkata under the National Council of Science Museums, the camp seeks to inspire scientific curiosity and academic excellence among school students.
Designed around interdisciplinary learning, the programme offers participants hands-on exposure to emerging areas of science through laboratory sessions, interactive workshops and collaborative academic activities. The camp also includes extracurricular engagements aimed at fostering creativity, teamwork and problem-solving skills.
Swami Durganathananda Ji Maharaj, Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, Kalyani, and Dibakar Bhoi, Assistant Commissioner, KVS Regional Office, Kolkata, who were present at the inaugural ceremony, commended IISER Kolkata for conceptualising an inclusive programme that provides talented students from the North-east with an opportunity to experience research-oriented education.
The organisers said the initiative aims to encourage students to develop a spirit of inquiry, embrace evidence-based learning and consider careers in scientific research and innovation. By exposing participants to cutting-edge scientific disciplines and interactions with researchers, the camp seeks to strengthen India’s future scientific talent pool.
The programme is being conducted under the leadership of IISER Kolkata Director Sunil Kumar Khare, with support from Deputy Director Rahul Banerjee, Dean of International Relations Debasis Koley and Associate Dean of International Relations Anirban Banerjee, whose contributions to organising the event were acknowledged during the inaugural session.
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Delhi, facilitated the selection of participants from the North-eastern region, while Science City, Kolkata, is partnering with IISER Kolkata to enrich the academic and outreach components of the programme. The inaugural ceremony concluded with the dignitaries expressing confidence that the camp would inspire the next generation of scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs.