IIT Ropar Hosts Industry LYNK 2025 to Drive Academia–Industry Collaboration
On September 30, 2025, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar successfully organized the Industry LYNK 2025 event, themed “Aligning Horizons: Talent, Ideas, and Industry for a Smarter Future.” This significant event brought together over 600 participants, including students, faculty, and more than 20 eminent speakers from both industry and academia.
Opening Remarks and Inaugural Address
The event commenced with opening remarks by Dr. Pushpendra P. Singh, Dean of the Centre for Academic and Professional Support (CAPS) at IIT Ropar. He highlighted the genesis of Industry LYNK and its importance in fostering collaboration between academia and industry.
Following this, Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director of IIT Ropar, delivered the inaugural address. He emphasized the critical role of academia–industry collaborations in shaping a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) and in building future-ready talent.
Keynote Addresses and MoU Announcements
The event featured a keynote address by Dr. Varadharaju Janardhanan, Chief Human Resources Officer at Flipkart Super Money. This was complemented by the announcement of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with various industry partners, aimed at enhancing collaborative efforts.
A TED Talk by Dr. Raju Kadam from Bharat Forge further enriched the session, providing insights into industry trends and challenges.
Panel Discussions
Panel Discussion on HR
The first panel discussion focused on “The Future of Workforce in the Era of Industry 4.0: Rethinking Recruitment and Talent Readiness for Viksit Bharat.” Moderated by Ms. Cheshta Dora from People Matters, the panel included notable figures such as:
- Mr. Charles Godwin, HR Leader and Public Speaker, Zoho Corp.
- Mr. Niket Gupta, Head of Talent Acquisition and Campus, Myntra
- Mr. Mayank Jain, Chief Metaverse Officer and Head of Digital Transformation, US Tech Solutions
This discussion explored how emerging technologies and digital transformation are reshaping talent acquisition, workforce development, and HR strategies.
Panel Discussion on R&D
The second panel discussion addressed “Shaping Viksit Bharat: AI, Data, and Industry 4.0 through Academia–Industry Collaboration.” This session was moderated by Mr. Shaunak Sontakke, Director of Engineering at Pattern, and featured panelists such as:
- Ms. Soumya Gopinathan, Ecosystem and Tech Excellence Leader, Schneider Electric
- Dr. Jatinder Kaur Arora, Advisor, Northern Region S&T Cluster
- Mr. Yachneet Pushkarna, CEO & Director, Haribol Foods
- Mr. Dinkar Gupta, Founder, LEAP Tech
- Dr. Sudarshan Iyengar, Director, Annam.ai
The session was enhanced by a TED Talk from Ms. Ruchi Challu, Senior Vice President at BHIVE, and a keynote address by Mr. Nilesh Biniwale, Managing Director at Pattern.
Panel Discussion on CSR
The third panel discussion focused on “Industry–Academia Synergy for Social and Sustainable Innovation.” Moderated by Mr. Abhishek Jha, Consulting Editor at Foreign Affairs and CSR Universe, the panel included:
- Mr. Ramesh Venugopalsamy, CSR Head Skilling, Bajaj Auto Ltd.
- Mr. Victor Sundararaj, Associate Vice President – Education, Learning and Development, Infosys
- Mr. Aishwarya Mahajan, Managing Trustee & President, M3M Foundation
- Mr. Naveen Jha, Director, ISAP India
- Mr. Anirudh Singh Rana, Founder, Smillets
This session also featured a TED Talk titled “Alumni Perspective” by Mr. Ashwin Goyal, Product Manager at HRS Group and IIT Ropar Alumnus.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
The Industry LYNK 2025 program concluded with the announcement of Industry LYNK 2026 by Prof. Rajeev Ahuja and the CAPS team. The event wrapped up with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Surya K. Sahdeo, Coordinator of Alumni & Placement at IIT Ropar.
Note: The Industry LYNK initiative aims to strengthen the ties between academia and industry, fostering innovation and collaboration for a sustainable future.
