Prof. M. H. Bala Subrahmanya is a Senior Professor at the Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. His academic expertise spans Managerial Economics, Macroeconomics, and Industrial Economics. A seasoned scholar with global recognition, he was awarded the Fulbright-Nehru Senior Research Fellowship at the University of California, Davis (2009–2010). He has also served as a Visiting Research Fellow at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Tokyo (2005–2006), and at the University of Durham, UK (2000), focusing on SME development.

Prof. Subrahmanya has led several major research projects funded by national and international agencies, covering topics such as R&D and technology, business incubators in India, SME internationalization, and the impact of technological innovation on manufacturing SME growth. His work is widely published in reputed economic and policy journals and is recognized for contributing to entrepreneurship, innovation, and SME development in emerging economies.

Professor Noel Lindsay is the Dean of Business at Adelaide Business School and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Entrepreneurship) at the University of Adelaide, where he also serves as Professor of Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation. He holds a BCom (Hons) and PhD, is a Member of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners and Chartered Accountants ANZ, and is a Fellow of CPA Australia.

Prof. Lindsay provides strategic leadership to the Adelaide Business School and the University’s ThincLab Innovation Hubs, driving institutional change toward a more entrepreneurial university culture. He has previously served as Academic Director of the University’s Ngee Ann-Adelaide (NAA) Campus in Singapore, Head of the School of Marketing and Management, and Acting Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion. Internationally experienced, he played a key role in developing an Australian university presence in South Africa with campuses in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town. Beyond academia, he has founded and scaled ventures in Australia, Malaysia, and South Africa, with active involvement in venture capital fundraising and investment.

His outreach interests include community engagement through online education, blended learning, and digital platforms like MOOCs and SPOCs. His research focuses on business and social entrepreneurship, emphasizing the empowerment of disadvantaged communities through entrepreneurial activity.

The rise and fall of technology start-ups have become a hallmark of the global economy in the 21st century. In this context, deep-tech start-ups—which develop advanced technological solutions to complex social and economic challenges—stand out for their resilience and long-term growth potential

This international conference aims to unite renowned academics, policymakers, industry leaders, and innovation ecosystem stakeholders to explore how Entrepreneurial Universities can help shape and sustain a thriving deep-tech start-up environment.

As the Joint Co-Chair of the Conference, I invite Researchers and academics specially working in the deep-tech space to submit original papers, pitch decks and case studies aligned with the conference theme to reflect their innovation journey.

Dr. Basab Chakraborty is an Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. He holds a Ph.D. from IIT Madras (1999) and has been with IIT Kharagpur since 2013, where he blends engineering innovation with entrepreneurial thinking. He researches the critical domains of energy storage science and technology, new materials for energy storage, renewable energy management, and the role of smart grids in the Indian context. Between 1996 and 2025, he published several journal articles, conference papers, and reviews, establishing himself as a leading voice in sustainable energy systems. His work reflects significant scholarly impact. Dr. Chakraborty has worked on interdisciplinary research projects, contributing meaningfully to India’s energy innovation landscape. His current work addresses the urgent need for efficient, scalable, and context-sensitive energy solutions that align with India’s evolving energy infrastructure.

Dr. Lina Sonne is an Innovation Economist and Associate Professor at the Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship (DSSE), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Her research focuses on the intersection of technological change and digitisation and their societal implications, particularly within the contexts of AI in business, entrepreneurship, innovation systems, and sustainable development. She has a strong interest in social entrepreneurship, gender and technology, and the creative industries in India.

She brings over two decades of academic and advisory experience, having previously held faculty positions at FLAME University, O.P. Jindal Global University, and Azim Premji University. Beyond academia, she has served in leadership roles at Inblick Innovation Advisory and Okapi Advisory Services, guiding innovation and entrepreneurship strategy in emerging markets.

Her academic training includes a PhD from United Nations University-MERIT, an MSc from City, University of London, and a BA (Hons) from London South Bank University, with an Erasmus exchange at HEC Lausanne. At IIT Bombay, she teaches social entrepreneurship, business model innovation, and research communication courses while actively contributing to policy and academic discourse on inclusive and sustainable innovation.

Prof. Phani has had an illustrious and impactful 15-year journey at IIT Kanpur, where he currently serves as the Head of the Department and Professor. His administrative roles include Professor-in-Charge of the Syndicate Bank Entrepreneurship Research and Training Center (SBERTC), the Information and Media Outreach Cell, and Chief Investigator at the E&ICT Academy, IIT Kanpur.

Over the years, he has held key leadership positions such as Dean of Resources & Alumni, Head of the SIDBI Innovation and Incubation Center, and Associate Dean of Innovation & Incubation. He has led the design and implementation of several strategic initiatives, including IIT Kanpur’s entrepreneurship and seed fund policies, and large-scale innovation ecosystems involving 11 incubators, five labs, and a 400,000 sq. ft. S&T park.

With more than 3,000 hours of teaching across premier Indian and international institutions (including IITs, IIMs, Copenhagen Business School, and the University of Connecticut), his teaching interests span finance, risk management, and innovation. He has guided over 75 graduate theses and postdoctoral researchers and mentored more than 100 startups.

He has delivered more than 150 invited talks globally, and his excellence in teaching has been recognized with over 15 Senate commendations. His research and policy contributions span finance, ICT-driven innovation, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and startup policy. He remains deeply engaged with industry, government, and academia in institution building and innovation leadership.

Arun is currently a Professor of Finance & Accounting at the Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India. Arun holds a Ph.D from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. His research interests are in the domain on “Corporate Governance, Start-up Valuation, and Development Finance.” He has co-authored a few books viz. “Management Accounting” “Public perception of security” which encompasses food and health security and on social issues “Muscle to the Mind” and another in vernacular titled “In search of the Horizon”. He has undertaken a host of consulting and training assignments ranging from Corporate Re structuring to Economic analysis of infrastructure projects. His current focus is on ‘Evidence Based Impact Assessment’ for various development agencies across the world including Department of International Development (DFID), Government of UK. His works extend to assessment of field level interventions on developmental issues. He is a certified social impact assessment practitioner.

Dr. Ganesaraman K is a seasoned academic and accomplished industry professional who is a Professor of Practice in the Department of Management Studies, Faculty of Management and Commerce, at M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (MSRUAS), Bangalore. In addition to his academic role, he is the Vice President and Head of Global Internal Audit at [24]7.ai, where he plays a strategic role in corporate governance and is a CSR trustee. He earned his Ph.D. in Management Studies from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. His academic journey is distinguished by a Cost and Management Accounting (CMA) qualification from the ICWA Institute, a Triple Gold Medal in his Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA) from LIBA, Chennai, and a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Bharathidasan University, where he graduated as the university topper and gold medalist. He has over two decades of rich industry experience across global corporations. His research interests span entrepreneurship, startup ecosystems, risk and audit governance, and quality systems in corporate environments. He is particularly passionate about bridging industry and academia, and empowering future leaders with practice-oriented insights grounded in rigorous research.

Prof. K.M. Sharath Kumar is a Professor & Dean for the Faculty of Management and Commerce at Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences. He was also the founding director of research at the university from 2014 to 2022. He has over 20 years of teaching, research, and service experience. He has been working with the Ramaiah Group since 2008. He is an eminent management education figure well-known for his impeccable contributions to academia, research, and industrial consultancy. His areas of specialization include Supply Chain Management, Operations Research, Data Envelopment Analysis, and Entrepreneurship. He has completed a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, an MBA specializing in Marketing, and a Ph.D. from Coventry University, U.K. He has executed Sponsored Research Projects from the Ministry of MSME, IIIPI, ICSSR, TIFAC, etc., and carried out 10+ Industrial Consultancy Projects. Dr. Sharath has more than 30+ Peer peer-reviewed publications, and 05 Students have been awarded Ph.D.s under his guidance. He is one such STEM Professional who was shortlisted and sponsored by the National Bio-Pharma Mission of DBT, Government of India, for the Training Programmes on ‘Technology Transfer’. One of his remarkable strengths is his ability to assemble high-performance teams. His leadership style focuses on setting précised goals and achieving them via mergers and advancements. By leveraging his enormous experience, he promotes a culture of excellence within Academia, encouraging faculty and students to envisage phenomenal results. He is a ‘Management Committee’ Member of Bangalore Management Association for the Year 2024-25 and a Steering Committee Member of ‘Asian Society of Innovation and Policy’, South Korea. He is also a Life Member of ISTE and ORSI. He has extensively travelled to Countries like the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Ghana, and the Middle East.

It is a privilege to serve as a Joint Co-Chair and Member of the Editorial Committee for this International Conference on 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Deep-Tech Startups.' This event is a crucial platform for us to collectively explore how entrepreneurial universities can be pivotal in nurturing deep-tech innovation. My own research at IIT Delhi is dedicated to understanding how technology, particularly in areas like sustainable supply chains and advanced manufacturing, can drive both economic growth and social good. The discussions here are vital for creating frameworks that support a new generation of entrepreneurs who will build sustainable and impactful solutions. I look forward to the collaborative exchange of ideas and insights from across academia, industry, and the startup ecosystem. Together, we can pave the way for a future where research and innovation are seamlessly translated into tangible, positive change.

Prof. Gourav Dwivedi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Management Studies at IIT Delhi. He holds a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from HBTI Kanpur and is a Fellow (Ph.D.) of IIM Lucknow. Prior to his academic career, he had a six-year tenure with Larsen & Toubro Technology Services Limited, where he was involved in plant design and execution for Fortune 500 CPG companies. His current research expertise is in Operations and Supply Chain Management. He is also a co-author of a widely-used Supply Chain Management textbook published by Pearson India. His research is centred on innovation, sustainability, and technology in emerging economies, with key contributions in areas such as Industry 4.0 adoption, circular economy models, and mobility. In addition, he leads project initiatives that empower women entrepreneurs at the grassroots level, effectively bridging the gap between academic theory and practical, real-world impact. For details: https://web.iitd.ac.in/~gourav/

Dr. S. Ajitha is an academician and researcher with over 17 years of experience in teaching, research, and administration. She holds a Ph.D. in Management, an MBA (Finance & HR) and M.Tech. in Data Science and Engineering from BITS Pilani. Her expertise spans business analytics, AI, consumer behavior, finance, and sustainability, with extensive research profile with over 30 research papers published in reputed Scopus, ABDC, UGC Care-listed, and peer-reviewed journals. She has authored and edited books, contributed to Scopus-indexed book chapters, and applied for patents in machine learning and HR analytics. Her consistent research output reflects her commitment to advancing knowledge in both management and interdisciplinary domains.