Bhubaneswar, Mar 17: Birla Global University successfully hosted the International Conference on Grassroots and Frugal Innovation (GFI 2026) from March 12 to 14, bringing together global experts to discuss sustainable solutions for emerging economies through innovation.
The conference aimed to address pressing development challenges by promoting grassroots and cost-effective innovation while creating a collaborative platform for academicians, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
The event was organized by Birla School of Management’s B-Hive (Birla Hub for Innovation, Venturing and Entrepreneurship) in collaboration with the Earl V. Snyder Innovation Management Center at Syracuse University (USA) and Mid-West University, Surkhet (Nepal).
The inaugural session was graced by Dhruba Kumar Gautam, Vice Chancellor of Mid-West University, as the Chief Guest. Distinguished speakers included Prof. Anand Kumar Jaiswal from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Prof. S.P. Raj from Syracuse University, and Rajat Vardhan, Founder and CEO of Scanxt Scientific Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
Welcoming the participants, Dr. Subhendu Kumar Pratihari, Assistant Professor – Marketing and Entrepreneurship and Conference Chair, highlighted the importance of grassroots and frugal innovation in solving local challenges with global relevance. Prof. Kulbhushan Balooni, Vice Chancellor of Birla Global University, emphasized the institution’s commitment to fostering an innovation-driven research and entrepreneurship ecosystem, noting India’s strong legacy of grassroots innovation.
A key highlight of the conference was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Birla Global University and Mid-West University. The partnership aims to promote faculty and student exchange, joint research initiatives, and entrepreneurship development programs.
The conference also featured technical sessions on topics such as sustainable innovation ecosystems, climate-smart agricultural economies, and scaling grassroots innovation for inclusive development.
Additionally, the “Idea to Impact Bootcamp and Innovation Showcase” was organized to encourage student entrepreneurship. The event saw participation from 20 startups and 2 grassroots innovators presenting cost-effective, real-world solutions, while 83 student ventures took part in the bootcamp and pitch deck challenge.
The conference marked a significant step for Birla Global University in strengthening global collaborations and advancing innovation-led entrepreneurship.
