Kolkata: IIM-Calcutta launched a centre of excellence in entrepreneurship and innovation and brainstormed ideas on the areas of work that the centre would focus in the future after the inauguration of the two-day conclave titled ‘India 2047: Building the future with entrepreneurship’, which started on Saturday on Joka campus.
The setting up of the ‘Lalit Mohanka & Madan Mohanka Centre for Excellence in Entrepreneurship & Innovation’ has been funded by industrialist Madan Mohanka.“The mission of the centre would be to create entrepreneurial ecosystems that promote sustainable economic growth and job creation. To start with, I have given Rs 1 crore,” said Mohanka.
The national conference saw a conglomeration of visionaries, innovators, leaders, and IIM-C alumni from various sectors to discuss and explore the future of entrepreneurship in India and beyond. CMD of Lemon Tree Hotels, also an alumnus of IIM-C, Patanjali G Keswani delivered the keynote address virtually.
He spoke about his career with the Tata Administrative Services upon graduation from IIM-C in 1983 and after 15 years, rose to the top as the senior vice-president and chief operating officer in the Taj Group of Hotels. In 2002, he embarked on the entrepreneurial journey by starting Lemon Tree Hotels.
IIM-C director-in-charge Saibal Chattopadhyay said, “The event will discuss ideas and highlight how core sectors of manufacturing, services, e-commerce, alongside emerging sectors of HealthTech, EdTech, AgriTech, FinTech, AI can leverage advancements to drive businesses, policy, and practice forward. It will also help us to determine the direction of work for the centre.”