S. Vishnu Sharma
IIT Madras organized a summit on ‘Viksit Bharat 2047: Driving Inclusive Growth through CSR & Technology’ in the campus on 13 December 2024.
The heads of various PSUs and Corporate entities attended the event, during which the Institute showcased its areas of expertise and avenues for collaboration in technology.
Corporate leaders
The summit brought together a diverse group of corporate leaders, including CxOs from leading multinational corporations (MNCs) and public sector undertakings (PSUs) and CSR Heads, fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration on leveraging technology for greater societal impact.
Dignitaries
The summit was held in the presence of Thiru T.R.B. Rajaa, TN Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras.
Other dignitaries present were Mr. Kaviraj Nair, CEO – Office of Institutional Advancement, IIT Madras, Ms. Vasudha Narasimhan, VP-Corporate Relations, OIA IIT Madras, Faculty, students and other stakeholders.
Special address
Delivering a special address T.R.B. Rajaa said IIT Madras is one of the crown jewels of the State.
This CSR Event is an important moment. The linkage between the Industry, academia and the Government is key. This Government is keen to identify the gaps and address, he said speaking at IIT Madras.
There is this need from the society. There is intention from the Government and the industry. These need to be bridged, he said.
T R B Rajaa further said companies are gaining out of the rich talent pool of Tamil Nadu and the State’s resources should spend CSR funds in the State. CSR, as such, which is focused on areas that need focus with a little bit of Government intervention can go a long way.
Funding for research is very important. If I have a problem in Energy storage, I know I can come to IIT Madras and get a solution and connect with the Industry, he said.
Right now, Tamil Nadu is the third largest State when it comes to utilization of CSR Funds. So, the State knows where to put CSR, he said.
Director of IIT Madras
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said CSR has been a game-changer, particularly when we aspire to do something exploratory.
The outcomes of these initiatives, if successful, could lead to significant outcomes especially in areas like Sustainability, said IIT Madras director.
A major example is the Carbon Zero Challenge of IIT Madras, which encourages institutions in Tier 2 and 3 cities and encourages innovation in environment-friendly technology, he said.
We have had 25 start-ups come of out the Carbon Zero Challenge. Research and Innovation in devices for differently abled have also grown with the help of CSR Funds, he said.
Students of BS Degree in Data Science and Programming have also been supported with CSR Funding, he said.
Awards
As a part of the summit, the Institute presented the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047- IIT Madras Innovative Tech-for-Tomorrow CSR Awards’ to recognize and encourage meaningful industry participation in creating innovative technologies for lasting social impact via CSR.
IITM also recognized its current corporate partners for their enduring commitment to driving social impact through pioneering technology research and innovative collaborations.
Partnership
Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras spoke about the socially relevant work underway at the institute.
“We at IIT Madras, have proudly partnered with more than 200 corporates and PSUs to leverage technology research for social impact and the greater good.
From deploying scalable solutions such as Rural Technology Centres and our BS online degree programme, to establishing Centres of Excellence and executing impactful research projects, IIT Madras continues to stay in the forefront of pioneering technology research for social good, he said.
Corporate firms
Welcoming corporate firms to work with IIT Madras, Mr. Kaviraj Nair, CEO – Office of Institutional Advancement, IIT Madras, said at IIT Madras, they believe in harnessing the power of technology and innovation to address societal challenges and drive transformative change.
CSR funds have been instrumental in enabling impactful social transformation, supporting initiatives that bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and on-ground implementation, he said.
Tech-enabled interventions, in particular, have unlocked the potential for non-linear changes, amplifying the scale and speed of solutions to address pressing social issues, he said.
The National CSR Summit’s theme, ‘Viksit Bharat – Driving Inclusive Growth and Social Transformation through Tech-enabled CSR,’ reflects our collective vision to build a sustainable and equitable future, he said.
Together with our corporate partners, we are committed to turning bold ideas into actionable, life-changing outcomes that empower communities and foster a truly developed Bharat”
Culture of collaboration
Over the years, IIT Madras has built a culture of collaborating with industry to create a lasting impact across diverse themes such as agriculture, healthcare, environment, skilling and education.
The Institute invited the Corporate firms and PSU to join its in socially relevant initiatives.
Ecosystem
IIT Madras has also nurtured a vibrant innovation and incubation ecosystem and is at the forefront of creating new technologies that address societal challenges.
IITM has also created enduring value and lasting social impact via technology and research across diverse themes from agriculture, healthcare, sustainability, skilling, and education etc. by leveraging Corporate Social Responsibility.
Panel discussions
Panel discussions were held on the following topics
1. CSR as a catalyst for building a vibrant start-up Ecosystem in India
2. Partnering with Industries to build Harvard-like World-Class Institutes of Higher Education to pave way for Viksit Bharat 2047
3. Viksit Bharat: Skilling India for the future of Manufacturing – The Role of IITs
4. How can industries and IITs partner to drive the ESG agenda and support India’s sustainability goals?
Also Read – IIT Madras releases great 3D High-Resolution images