Tag: EmergingTechnologies

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Rohan Khaunte Emphasises Government–Academia–Industry Synergy at GIST 2025 to Drive Inclusive Innovation

Tanisha Cardozo

The third edition of the Goa Innovation and Startup Times (GIST 2025) was held on October 31, 2025, at Vivanta Goa, Panjim, celebrating the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Organised by BITS Pilani’s BITS BioCyTitH Foundation in partnership with the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), the Goa Technology Association (GTA), the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), and the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), the event brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs, academicians, and industry experts under one roof.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Shri Rohan Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Tourism, and Printing & Stationery, emphasised the Goa Government’s commitment to building a robust innovation ecosystem. He underlined the State’s focus on mentorship, infrastructure, and financial support for startups, noting that with 703 startups already registered under DPIIT, Goa is fast emerging as a hub where creativity meets technology. Khaunte also highlighted the government’s inclusive approach to policymaking, where inputs from academia and industry are shaping forward-looking frameworks.

He cited the Goa AI Mission 2027 as an example of this vision, aimed at making Goa a leader in emerging technologies and artificial intelligence. The initiative, he explained, not only focuses on fostering a thriving business environment but also seeks to empower the State’s youth to become job creators.

The event featured multiple sessions exploring innovation for social impact and sustainable development. One of the key highlights was the panel discussion titled “Innovation by the Seaside – Technology Drivers,” which featured industry leaders such as K. Bhattacharyya of Putzmeister, Dr. P. Kamat of Suzega, S. Chittore of Quantum AI Global, and M. Tiwari of Ethernet Xpress. Moderated by Dr. A. Pethe from Texas Instruments, the discussion focused on how AI and quantum technologies are shaping the next wave of innovation.

Another significant panel, “Science, Policy and Sustainability,” examined real-world applications of science and technology in addressing key societal challenges. Moderated by Dr. Jennifer Lewis, the session featured insightful contributions from Prof. A. Parulekar of GIM, Dr. B. Manjunath of Syngenta, Mr. M. K. Patil, Former Chairman of the Goa State Pollution Control Board, and Ms. Tripti Somani, Founder of Womennovator.

Guest of Honour Ms. Revathi Kamath, entrepreneur and educationist, delivered an inspiring address urging entrepreneurs to contribute toward social equity by making education and technology accessible to underprivileged communities. She reminded the audience that innovation carries a moral responsibility to serve society.

GIST 2025 also celebrated women entrepreneurs through a dedicated Women Entrepreneurship Camp, complemented by a startup expo and translational research showcase. A closed-door investment pitching session provided startups with opportunities to secure funding and partnerships.

Through its engaging sessions and strong cross-sector collaboration, GIST 2025 reaffirmed Goa’s position as a growing hub of innovation and inclusive growth — driven by the shared efforts of government, academia, and industry.

TechPulse

BridgeAura ’25 Launched to Shape Goa’s Future-Ready Engineering Workforce

Tanisha Cardozo

Panaji, July 18 2025: In a major push to strengthen Goa’s talent pool in emerging technologies, Fluxatic Global today launched BridgeAura ’25 — The Industry-Academia Tech Training Internship & Summit. The initiative, supported by the Startup and IT Promotion Cell under the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, aims to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world industry exposure for engineering students across the state.

The launch marks the return of one of Goa’s most impactful skilling initiatives, previously known as TechStatic, which has trained over 700 students since 2022. Now relaunched, BridgeAura ’25 is engaging over 250 students from five major engineering colleges in a two-month intensive program featuring 40 expert-led sessions across multiple domains, live projects, and hands-on mentorship.

“Equality in education must go hand-in-hand with opportunity in innovation,” said Shri. Rohan A. Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, Government of Goa. “More than the background, it’s the thought and innovation of the student that matters. BridgeAura provides a platform that bridges the gap between learning and doing — helping students convert ideas into real-world outcomes. Our goal is to shift the focus from job seekers to job creators by ensuring that Goa’s youth are skilled, reskilled, and upskilled in emerging technologies.”

At the launch, Khaunte also emphasized that through Startup and IT Policies, and initiatives like the Electronic Manufacturing Cluster in Tuem, the Government is creating additional verticals — especially for graduates in electronics and related fields, enabling them to find opportunities here in Goa and contribute to the state’s innovation ecosystem.

The inaugural session featured insights from Mr. Prajyot Mainkar, Founder & CEO of SoFueled, and Mr. Milind Anvekar, Senior Vice President at Open Destinations, both of whom emphasized the importance of future-ready skills and the growing role of collaborative innovation in shaping Goa’s tech ecosystem.

BridgeAura ’25 brings together a diverse group of mentors and experts from across industries, including Shawn Kenneth Fernandes, Founder of Fluxatic Global; Ravi Kambhoj, Creative Producer at TEDxPanaji and Festivalists; Clyde Tellis, Director at Top Goa Tours; Joseph Ribeiro, Managing Partner at Bits & Bytes; and Amey Arsekar, Co-Founder of Droolmonkey. The mentor cohort also includes Pallavi Nath, Intuitive Coach and Emotional Awareness Expert; Ruben Fernandes, Principal at COMPandSTRAT; Ankita Nagvekar Bhaip, Co-Founder of DGtive; and Shashank Shetye Saudagar, Founder of Grow With Cybertrom, each contributing domain expertise and lived experience to guide student journeys.

Mr. Shawn Fernandes, Founder of Fluxatic Global, added,“BridgeAura ‘25 is more than a training program — it’s a launchpad for Goa’s next generation of innovators and creators. With over 250 students participating from five major engineering colleges, it’s already the largest initiative of its kind in the state. This is just the beginning, we are committed to reshaping how Goa’s tech talent is trained, mentored, and deployed into the workforce.”

The initiative aligns with the broader vision of the Department of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications (DITE&C) to develop a future-ready talent pool through real-world skilling, innovation, and startup enablement. With the investments in forward-looking policies and infrastructure, Goa is steadily positioning itself as a rising hub for tech innovation and entrepreneurship.