Vivekananda Global University (VGU), Jaipur, took another significant step toward strengthening the innovation and startup ecosystem by successfully hosting the IIC Regional Meet 2025 today. The event was organized under the joint aegis of the Innovation Cell, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Ministry of Education, Government of India. More than 500 innovators, institutional representatives, startup founders, and students from Rajasthan and neighboring states participated in the program. The objective of this event was to promote a culture of innovation among higher education institutions, facilitate policy-level dialogue, strengthen the startup ecosystem, and encourage the exchange of new initiatives and best practices associated with the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC).

The program commenced with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony.Senior officials from the AICTE Innovation Cell, representatives of the Ministry of Education, and the university administration jointly inaugurated the event. Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. (Dr.) N. D. Mathur, said that it was a moment of pride for the university to host such a prestigious event and extended his best wishes to all budding entrepreneurs. The Vice Chairperson of the university, Dr. K. R. Bagaria, stated that such opportunities inspire students to move ahead in life and emphasized that an entrepreneur plays a vital role in improving the lives of many people. The Patron of the university, Dr. M. R. Bagaria, encouraged all the participants who came from across the state and described them as the “backbone of the nation.” He also said that their contribution would strengthen the Government of India’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat.” As the Chief Guest, Naresh Kumar Grover, Director, AICTE, highlighted the importance of innovation and spoke about the challenges and opportunities emerging in the changing times. He urged students and young entrepreneurs to make innovation an integral part of their lives. He added that India is rapidly moving toward an “Innovation-Driven Economy,” and the role of IIC is extremely crucial in this journey. AICTE officials Jerry Joshi and Ankush Gawri emphasized that several pioneering initiatives have been undertaken by AICTE and the Ministry of Education to promote a culture of innovation across the country. These include the IIC model, the Startup Policy, Proof of Concept (PoC) grants, innovation competitions, mentorship programs, and startup incubation support. At the end of the inaugural session, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) D. V. S. Bhagavanulu extended his gratitude to all the guests and participants.

Throughout the day, various technical and entrepreneurship-focused sessions were conducted, including discussions on the IIC framework and innovation, pre-incubation and incubation models for start-ups, YUKTI innovations, presentations on best practices from different institutions, Q&A sessions with national-level experts, and motivational talks by start-up founders sharing their experiences. Institutions that performed exceptionally well under the IIC framework were also honoured.This initiative helps foster healthy competition at the institutional level and motivates everyone to adopt better work practices.During the event, the host institution Vivekananda Global University introduced several new initiatives aimed at enhancing innovation. These include latest startup support for students, strengthened industry collaborations, innovation laboratories, and specialized incubation programs. The university administration stated that this event provided VGU with an opportunity to showcase its innovation efforts on a national platform and to learn from other institutions. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, faculty members, and representatives. Participants felt that the meet was extremely beneficial as it not only provided knowledge but also opened up different networking and collaboration opportunities. In conclusion, officials from the AICTE Innovation Cell thanked VGU for hosting the regional meet and added that such events play a crucial role in achieving the national innovation vision “Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Start-up Revolution.” The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks and a ceremonious closing filled with national spirit.