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 under the theme “Aligning Horizons: Talent, Ideas, and Industry for a Smarter Future.” This significant gathering aimed to foster collaboration between academia and industry, bringing together over 600 participants, including students, faculty, and more than 20 eminent speakers from various sectors.

Opening Remarks and Inaugural Address

The event commenced with opening remarks from Dr. Pushpendra P. Singh, Dean of CAPS at IIT Ropar. He highlighted the genesis of Industry LYNK and its objectives. 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 developed India (Viksit Bharat) and in preparing 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 followed by the announcement of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with various industry partners. Additionally, a TED Talk was presented by Dr. Raju Kadam from Bharat Forge, further enriching the event’s content.

Panel Discussions

Industry LYNK 2025 included several panel discussions focusing on key themes relevant to the current and future landscape of work and innovation.

Panel Discussion 1: The Future of Workforce

The first panel discussion revolved around “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:

• 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 panel explored how emerging technologies and digital transformation are reshaping talent acquisition, workforce development, and HR strategies.

Panel Discussion 2: AI, Data, and Industry 4.0

The second panel discussion focused on “Shaping Viksit Bharat: AI, Data, and Industry 4.0 through Academia–Industry Collaboration.” It was moderated by Mr. Shaunak Sontakke, Director of Engineering at Pattern, and featured:

• 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 further 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 3: CSR and Sustainable Innovation

The third panel discussion addressed “Industry–Academia Synergy for Social and Sustainable Innovation.” Moderated by Mr. Abhishek Jha, Consulting Editor at Foreign Affairs, 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 by Mr. Ashwin Goyal, Product Manager at HRS Group and an alumnus of IIT Ropar, providing valuable insights into the alumni perspective.

Conclusion of the Event

The program concluded with the announcement of Industry LYNK 2026 by Prof. Rajeev Ahuja and the CAPS Team. Dr. Surya K. Sahdeo, Coordinator of Alumni & Placement at IIT Ropar, delivered the vote of thanks, marking the end of a productive and insightful event.

Note: The Industry LYNK 2025 event at IIT Ropar exemplifies the growing importance of collaboration between academia and industry in fostering innovation and preparing the workforce for future challenges.