Gandhinagar, Aug 10: The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) organised the CSR Leadership Conclave 2026 on August 8, 2026. The event provided a platform to CSR leaders from leading industries, corporate organisations, academia and social sector institutions to explore meaningful partnerships for research, education and nation building. The conclave was a strategic platform to promote collaborations between industry and academia and to highlight the academic excellence, research capabilities and social impact initiatives of IITGN.
Welcoming the gathering, Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IIT Gandhinagar, spoke about the potential of CSR partnerships to strengthen the Institute’s core priorities in education and research. Reflecting on IITGN’s collaborations with government departments and other organisations, he said, “For an institution like IIT Gandhinagar, CSR can play an important role in complementing our priorities in education and research. We have been fortunate to work with several government departments and organisations, and these partnerships have helped us pursue impactful research and educational initiatives. As we look ahead, the opportunity is to build on these experiences and explore how CSR can be made even more effective and aligned with institutional priorities.”
Addressing the gathering, Mr Shailesh Tiwari, Chairman, Indian Oil-Hindustan Petroleum-Bharat Petroleum (IHB) Joint Venture and Executive Director (Pipeline), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), who was present as a chief guest during his keynote speech, spoke about the need to move beyond conventional, one-time CSR interventions and focus on creating meaningful and sustainable impact in communities. Reflecting on the broader vision of nation building, he highlighted the importance of strengthening the foundations for Viksit Bharat and creating opportunities that enable communities and beneficiaries to become active participants in the country’s development.
Emphasising the importance of collaboration among different stakeholders, he said, “Government or industry alone cannot bring about meaningful change. All of us, government, industry, academia and civil society, have to come together and contribute in whatever manner we can. CSR should not be limited to isolated interventions; we need to look at the reach of our initiatives, build meaningful relationships with communities, ensure inclusion and focus on the long-term sustainability of our interventions. Technology and information are important, but every CSR intervention must always remain focused on the community and the people we seek to serve.”
The event also featured an address by Prof Pratik Mutha, Dean, Institutional Advancement on the Institute’s vision for building impactful CSR partnerships in research excellence, student support, new academic initiatives, infrastructure development and social welfare projects. The presentation also highlighted IITGN’s research clusters and their capabilities, showcasing opportunities for industry and CSR organisations to collaborate with the Institute on interdisciplinary research and address emerging societal and national challenges.
More than 80 representatives from industry, corporate CSR foundations, philanthropies and academic institutions participated in the conclave.
The first panel discussion, “Collaborative Pathways to Nation Building: Industry, Academia and Society” featured Mr Asim Khan, CSR Head, Cadence; Mr Rinkesh Bansal, Program Director, IBM; and Mr Sumedh Kumar, HOD, Ahmedabad Operating Centre, Technip Energies, moderated by Mr Parthesh Vyas, CEO, Fulcrum. The discussion focused on strengthening industry-academia partnerships, aligning CSR investments with national priorities, and creating sustainable models for research, skilling and community development.
The panel explored how CSR can move beyond conventional interventions through stronger collaboration among industry, academia and society. The panellists discussed the importance of aligning CSR initiatives with local needs, promoting sustainability and inclusion, leveraging academic knowledge and technology, and developing partnerships that can take successful solutions to scale. The discussion also highlighted the role of CSR as a force multiplier, with academia, industry, corporates and civil society bringing complementary strengths to address complex societal challenges.
The second panel discussion was on the topic of “Reimagining CSR in the Age of AI: Shaping Social Impact in a Rapidly Evolving World” and it had Mr M S Srikanth, Senior Manager CSR, IOCL and Mr Pavan Jain, COO, Yuva Unstoppable as panellists. Mr Anand Pandey, COO, IITGN Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (IIEC) moderated the panel. The panel talked about how emerging technologies, especially AI, can improve the effectiveness, scalability and inclusiveness of CSR initiatives while responding to the changing societal challenges.
The conclave also featured the CSR Excellence Recognition Ceremony, recognising organisations for their work with IIT Gandhinagar in various domains.
Prof Pankaj Khanna, Associate Dean, Institutional Engagements, delivered a vote of thanks followed by a networking session that enabled participants to explore future collaborations and partnership opportunities.
The conclave highlighted IIT Gandhinagar’s initiative to develop long-term partnerships with industry to create meaningful impact through research, innovation and education.