Tag: Innovation

TechPulse

Goa Tunes In to HamFest India 2025

allycaralgoa

A global celebration of communication, innovation, and community spirit

Ponda, October 13, 2025: Riding a wave of innovation and connectivity, HamFest India 2025 took place on October 11–12 at the Goa College of Engineering (GEC), Farmagudi, uniting radio enthusiasts, technology innovators, and experts from across the globe.

Organised by the Goa Radio Amateur Society (GRAS) in association with Goa College of Engineering and supported by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Government of Goa, the event marked the 32nd edition of HamFest India — and Goa’s first time hosting it.

More than 700 delegates from India and abroad attended the event, including representatives from Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society, AMSAT-India, and Upagrah Amateur Radio Club.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by Shri Rohan Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister of Information Technology, Electronics & Communications, along with Group Captain & Astronaut Subhanshu Shukla (VU2TNI), Shri Nitin Raiker, Dr. M.S. Krupashankara (Principal, GEC), and Shri Sandesh Bhat (VU22DX), Convenor of HamFest India Goa.

In his inaugural address, Minister Rohan Khaunte stated,

“This year’s HamFest holds special significance as Goa proudly hosts the 32nd edition for the very first time. Known for its cultural heritage and educational vibrancy, Goa provides the perfect backdrop for an event that beautifully blends technology, learning, and community spirit. The Government of Goa remains committed to supporting such initiatives that promote technical excellence, innovation, and social responsibility.”

Across two dynamic days, HamFest India 2025 featured:

  • 40+ technical sessions and 8 live demos on radio technologies and innovation
  • 37 exhibitors showcasing antennas, transceivers, and communication equipment
  • Hands-on workshops exploring the practical applications of amateur radio
  • Interactive discussions with renowned operators involved in disaster response and emergency communications

For the first time ever, Goa became the heart of India’s amateur radio movement — a space where technology met passion, and where the hum of innovation resonated across communities.

As the curtains came down on HamFest India 2025, participants left inspired, connected, and energized — a true reflection of how technology continues to unite people across borders and frequencies.

Business

Industries Minister Shri Mauvin Godinho Attends 2nd Goa Developers’ Summit 2025 at BITS Pilani

allycaralgoa

Panaji, October 2025: The 2nd Goa Developers’ Summit 2025 was successfully held at BITS Pilani, Goa Campus, marking another milestone in the state’s journey toward innovation-led growth. The event was attended by Industries Minister Shri Mauvin Godinho, who emphasized the importance of nurturing Goa’s technology ecosystem and supporting start-ups and developers to build a sustainable industrial future.

The summit was jointly organised by the Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), the Government of Goa, the Directorate of Technical Education, and the Directorate of Higher Education. The collaboration aimed to create a bridge between academia, industry, and governance — fostering a shared vision for Goa’s economic transformation.

Key sessions focused on topics such as digital transformation, industrial growth, AI and data-driven development, education reforms, and skill-based employability. Industry experts, educators, and policymakers shared insights on creating an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship.

Speaking at the event, Shri Mauvin Godinho lauded the collective efforts of Goa’s development community and underlined the government’s commitment to empowering youth through skill development and digital opportunities.

The Goa Developers’ Summit 2025 highlighted the synergy between technology and industry as the foundation for Goa’s sustainable and inclusive progress.

📖 Read the full coverage on allycaral.com — Connecting Global.

Events in Goa

Design Thinking Takes Center Stage at First Fridays’ 17th Edition in Goa

Tanisha Cardozo

Panjim, October 2025 – The 17th edition of First Fridays, Goa’s monthly creative gathering, brought together design professionals, startups, and innovation enthusiasts to explore the transformative power of Design Thinking. The session, hosted by the Creative Community of Goa in collaboration with the Association of Designers of India (ADI) Goa Chapter and supported by the Startup and IT Promotion Cell (SITPC), was held at Biz Nest, Co-Working Space, Patto, Panjim on Friday, October 3, 2025.

The evening featured a thought-provoking session led by Dr Sneha Bhat, Assistant Professor, Strategy & Consulting at Goa Institute of Management (GIM). With an emphasis on empathy, user experience, and iterative problem-solving, Dr Sneha unpacked the five key phases of the design thinking process: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. She highlighted that design thinking is not just a method but a mindset—one that puts the user at the center of every decision.

Dr Sneha illustrated the difference between traditional tools such as surveys and the human-centered insights gained through design thinking. She pointed to Apple’s revolutionary design of the iPhone, where features like “pinch to zoom” were born from observing real user behavior. “Apple didn’t just create a product; they designed an experience,” she noted.

The audience, comprising designers, developers, entrepreneurs, and students, engaged deeply with the conversation, gaining actionable insights on applying design thinking across disciplines—from product development to service innovation and organizational change.

The event also featured remarks from Shri DS Prashant, CEO of the Startup & IT Promotion Cell, who emphasized Goa’s vision to become a destination for design-led innovation. He highlighted ongoing efforts to nurture a startup ecosystem that prioritizes creativity, local talent, and product-building. “A draft design policy is now in circulation for feedback, and initiatives like First Fridays play a key role in strengthening Goa’s creative infrastructure,” he said.

First Fridays has grown into a platform where Goa’s creative and tech community converge to exchange ideas, build networks, and foster innovation. This edition further contributed to the broader vision of positioning Goa as the Creative Capital of India—where art, design, and technology intersect to build a future rooted in creativity and purpose.

Human Interest

Google Celebrates 27 Years of Innovation with Nostalgic Birthday Doodle

Tanisha Cardozo

Can you believe Google just celebrated its 27th birthday? On September 27, 2025, the tech giant marked the milestone with a vibrant and nostalgic Google Doodle that lit up its homepage. For millions of users across the United States and around the world, it was a cheerful reminder of how far Google has come—from a scrappy startup in a California garage to one of the most influential companies in the world.

Google’s story reads like the ultimate tech fairy tale. It all began in 1998 when two Stanford PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, launched the search engine out of a garage in Menlo Park. Their mission was simple but ambitious: “To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” Over the last 27 years, that mission has reshaped how we live, learn, work, and connect.

Today, Google is far more than just a search engine. It powers the way we navigate cities with Google Maps, the way we communicate through Gmail, how we stream content on YouTube, and how billions of people interact with Android devices every day. More recently, Google AI has become a focal point of the company’s future vision, bringing new capabilities to everything from personal assistants to real-time language translation.

The Doodle celebrating the 27th anniversary was, as always, fun and user-friendly. It featured a throwback to Google’s first-ever logo from 1998, evoking the early days of dial-up internet and clunky desktop computers. The artwork blended nostalgia with a forward-looking message, encouraging users to explore Google’s newest AI developments—bridging the past with the future.

“These birthday Doodles always feel special,” the company wrote in its announcement. “This Doodle marks Google’s 27th birthday. We’re celebrating by getting nostalgic with our first-ever logo. Search on.”

For many Americans, Google is more than a product—it’s a verb, a tool, and a daily companion. Whether you’re looking up a recipe, navigating a traffic jam, fact-checking during a debate, or planning your next vacation, Google is seamlessly integrated into your routine.

And while the 27th birthday celebration looked back on nearly three decades of progress, it also served as a subtle nod to the road ahead. With artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and sustainability initiatives gaining momentum, the next chapter promises to be just as transformative as the last.

By the time Google hits 30, one thing is certain: the birthday Doodle tradition will be alive and well—still making millions smile as they open their browsers and start their day.

EduConnect

Goa’s Social Science Faculty Empowered through Advanced Peer-Learning Workshop (Phase IV)

Tanisha Cardozo

The Directorate of Higher Education, Government of Goa, organised a two-day advanced-level research workshop aimed at enhancing the research skills and capabilities of social science faculty across the state. Titled ‘Faculty-to-Faculty Peer Learning in Social Sciences (Phase IV)’, the workshop was held on September 18th and 19th, 2025, and brought together academicians to explore modern research methodologies and tools that can shape the future of evidence-based social science research in the region.

The workshop was inaugurated in the presence of Chief Guest Bhushan K. Savaikar, Director of the Directorate of Higher Education, who spoke about the importance of academic research in tackling real-world societal challenges. His address set the tone for a high-impact event that combined intellectual discourse with hands-on learning. The workshop was meticulously co-ordinated by Prof. (Dr.) Niyan Marchon and Prof. (Dr.) Mahesh Majik, with the support of Asst. Prof. Devmanoj Medisetty.

Dr. Sunil Kumar from the National Institute of Technology Goa delivered the keynote session, focusing on “Integrating Innovation, Intellectual Property, and Development Policy in Social Science Research.” His presentation emphasized how social sciences can harness innovation and policy frameworks to generate actionable insights that benefit both academia and society at large.

The two-day event featured multiple peer-led learning sessions where faculty members shared their expertise on various research topics. These included statistical expressions and hypothesis formulation, quantitative data analysis using SPSS, qualitative research using QGIS, and techniques for effective data management. Participants were also introduced to practical applications such as the use of SPSS for public policy and election data analysis, and methods for developing impactful research questionnaires.

One of the highlights of the workshop was the introduction to open-source tools that can democratize access to quality research resources, making it easier for faculty to pursue rigorous research regardless of institutional constraints. The emphasis on real-world application and data-driven insights aligned well with the broader goals of academic excellence and informed policy making.

The event concluded on a high note, reaffirming the Directorate of Higher Education’s commitment to nurturing a culture of continuous learning, collaboration, and innovation among Goa’s academic community. The fourth phase of the Faculty-to-Faculty Peer Learning initiative has once again demonstrated the power of collective academic engagement in elevating research standards across disciplines.