Topic: Enhancing Entrepreneurship Education Initiatives in Universities through Strategic Partnerships

Dr Avvari V. Mohan is a Professor and Deputy Head (Engagement & Impact) at the School of Business, Monash University Malaysia. He holds a PhD in Management of Innovation from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at KAIST, South Korea. Before Monash, he served in various leadership roles at Nottingham University Business School, Malaysia. Dr Mohan’s research and teaching focus on innovation systems, sustainability, and responsible business strategies. He has published in international journals and contributed to reports for global agencies. He serves as Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Journal of Technology Innovation and is on the editorial boards of leading journals. A frequent contributor to organisations like UNESCO, UN-ESCAP, and WTA, Dr Mohan has also served as an innovation auditor for Malaysian SMEs and as a Council Member of the Consumer Forum under MCMC. His work bridges academia, policy, and industry impact.

Topic: Marketing for Tech Entrepreneurs

Dr Ajay Manrai is a Professor of Marketing at the University of Delaware’s Lerner College of Business and Economics. He earned his PhD from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, and a B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Delhi. Before joining Delaware in 1991, he taught at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr Manrai has published over 100 scholarly articles in journals such as Marketing Science and the Journal of International Marketing. His research focuses on consumer choice modelling, multinational marketing strategies, and cross-cultural consumer behaviour. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Global Marketing and serves on the editorial boards of leading journals. A Fulbright-Nehru Scholar and recipient of multiple teaching awards, Dr Manrai has taught MBA and EMBA programs globally and travelled to nearly 120 countries. He is recognised for his excellence in research, global academic service, and impactful teaching in marketing.

Topic: The Private Sector Should Establish Worldclass Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa

Professor Olubayi Olubayi is the Chief Academic Officer at Maarifa Education Holding and serves as Chairman of the University Council at Cavendish University Uganda. A scientist and educator, he holds a PhD in microbiology from Rutgers University, where he taught for more than 16 years. His research includes a patent on bacterial flocculation and numerous publications in microbiology, biotechnology, and education.

Previously, he was Vice Chancellor of the International University of East Africa (IUEA). He has taught critical thinking at the MBA level and advised governments in Kenya and South Africa, as well as the UNDP, on education, literacy, and sustainable development.

Prof. Olubayi is also a social entrepreneur. He co-founded Kiwimbi International and the Global Literacy Project, which promotes global service learning and library access. He is the author of Education for a Better World and a PhD advisor for Oxford University’s Wellcome Trust Program in Kenya.

Topic: From Lab to Market: How Entrepreneurial Universities Create Deep-Tech Breakthroughs

Rekha Rao-Nicholson is a Professor of Management at the University of Essex. She holds degrees in Electronics & Telecommunication, Software Engineering, and a PhD in Economics and Management. Her research focuses on business strategy, cross-border acquisitions, and public-private partnerships in emerging economies. Before Essex, she held academic roles at Newcastle University, Bristol Business School, and the University of Bath. She has received several grants, including from SPARC (India), BA-Leverhulme, and ESRC. Before academia, she worked in large MNCs and startups, including Siemens and Metaware Spa, and consulted on business development in emerging markets.

Topic: Management Practices and Firm Performance: Evidence from Japanese Companies Operating in India

Professor Takahiro Sato is Professor and Deputy Director at the Research Institute of Economics and Business Administration, Kobe University, Japan. He holds a PhD in Economics from Osaka City University and previously served as a full-time lecturer at Fukuoka University, an Associate Professor at Osaka City University, and an Associate Professor at Kobe University before assuming his current position.

Professor Sato specialises in development economics, with a particular focus on the contemporary Indian economy and structural transformation in emerging markets. His research has significantly contributed to understanding India’s economic reforms, globalisation, and growth dynamics.

He is the author and editor of several influential books in Japanese, including Economic Development: India’s Structural Adjustment Program and Globalization (2002), which received the Japanese Association for South Asian Studies Award, as well as Macroeconomic Analysis of the Indian Economy (2009), Modern Indian and South Asian Economy (2011), India in Upheaval III: Dynamism of Economic Growth (2014), Illustrated Compendium of Indian Economy (2021), and Opportunities and Challenges of the Economic Superpower India (2023). His forthcoming co-edited volume, New New Trade Theory and Indian Economy, is expected in 2025.

Professor Sato has also published extensively in leading international journals, including the Journal of Policy Modeling, Economics of Governance, Oxford Development Studies, Journal of Asian Economics, European Journal of Development Research, and Economic and Political Weekly, among others.

Topic: University Incubator Consortium - A Collaborative Model for Entrepreneurship and Research

Dr Angelina Seow Voon Yee is an expert in university-industry collaborations. She is currently based at the Asia Pacific University in Malaysia. Her work spans innovation management, coaching and mentoring systems, governance and accountability, and cross-cultural collaboration, with a special focus on ASEAN-Japan and broader Asia partnerships.

She also researches the implementation of accounting and auditing standards in the Malaysian context and issues related to business valuation. Dr Yee has contributed to national policy through engagements with the Ministry of Higher Education, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, the Innovation Agency Malaysia, and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

Previously, she served as Director of Industry Collaboration at Nottingham MyResearch and Nottingham MyRIAD Solutions, and was a Council Member of CPA Malaysia Division. She has led commissioned research for firms such as COB Holdings Berhad and remains a key voice in advancing research-driven innovation in Malaysia and Asia.

Topic: Science & Technology Commercialization for Social Impact

Dr Jon Thomas is Director of the Esposito Family Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (EFCIE) and the BC Regional Innovation Chair in Canada-India Partnership Development at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), where he is also Associate Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He holds a PhD in Technology Management and Strategy from IIT Delhi, an MBA, and a degree in Statistics. Before UFV, he was a post-doctoral researcher at Simon Fraser University and held a Mitacs Elevate Fellowship. Dr Thomas’s interdisciplinary research has appeared in journals like Nature Nanotechnology, Technovation, and the Journal of Cleaner Production. His work focuses on the emergence of science-based ventures, regional innovation ecosystems, and early-stage entrepreneurship. He is a dedicated mentor and speaker who has supported aspiring entrepreneurs in Canada and India for over two decades. At UFV, he champions interdisciplinary, innovation-driven education to prepare students for the complexities of the modern workforce.

Topic: Building Deep-Tech Startups Through Co-Creation

Dr Roland Haas is a serial entrepreneur, researcher, startup mentor, and author. He has 30 years of professional experience in senior techno-managerial, business innovation and business development assignments in Europe, the US and Asia. Roland Haas has a broad experience in Automotive R&D, Aerospace R&D, Engineering & IT services, Consulting and Strategy. He is the Co-founder & CEO of ARAI Solutions, a deep-tech AI startup, and an Adjunct Professor at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B). His teaching and research span a wide area of topics, including Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cyber-Physical Systems, Cyber Security, Automotive Software Technologies, and Information Management.

Topic: The Bridge Role of Government and Industry for Entrepreneurial Universities Realization

Mr Naoto Nakadate is a Senior Director of the Japan-India Startup Hub at Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Bengaluru office. He is a transferred employee from the Japanese national government's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). His career has spanned startup/VC, academia, and government. He studied the Toyota Production System (TPS) at the University of Tokyo, joined a Japanese IT startup, Bebit. He transitioned from the startup sector to the government sector, joining METI. There, he promoted AI/IT and DX/Industry 4.0 policies and researched disruptive technologies such as Quantum computing, Advanced Semiconductors, Neuroscience, and Genome editing. After decommissioning the Fukushima-Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and committing to COVID-19 vaccine promotion, he studied biotechnology [Genome editing and Opto-genetics] in a master’s degree at the University of Tokyo as a second major. He worked as a venture capitalist [Indian startup investment team leader, academia incubation team] at Japanese deeptech VC, UMI. He is certified in the Innovation, Science and Technology Policy Program from The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan. He plays a key role in bridging the cross-sector of Government, Academia, and Startup. He also bridges cross-industry areas, including AI/IT, Quantum/Semiconductor, Biotechnology, and Automotive.

Topic: Strengthening Interaction between Academia and Industry: Role of MSME University

Dr Charan Singh is the CEO and Founder Director of the EGROW Foundation. He was also the Non-Executive Chairman of Punjab & Sind Bank in two stints - May 2018 to May 2021 and November 2022 to November 2024. He continues to pursue his academic interests by regularly teaching courses on Macroeconomics, Monetary Policy, Global Economics (International Finance), and contemporary issues in the Indian Economy at IIM Visakhapatnam and IIM Rohtak. Earlier, he taught a course on International Finance at UCLA Anderson in LA, in 2018 (April to June).

Earlier, he was the RBI Chair Professor of Economics at the prestigious Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, India; Senior Economist at the IMF, Washington DC (August 2009-December 2012); and Research Director (Economic Policy, Debt Management; 1997-2009) at the RBI, where he joined as Research Officer in the economics department in 1984. He started his career in 1983 as a management trainee in Punjab National Bank. Among other positions, Dr Singh served on the Board of NHB and NABFINS.

His expertise is on Fiscal Policy (especially Market Borrowings, Debt Management); Monetary Policy (especially Public Sector Banks, Interest Rates, Inflation Targetting); Financial Markets (especially Money Market, Financial Inclusion) and he has worked extensively on issues like External Trade, International Reserves, Global Hunger Index, Old Age Pension, other development issues related to India's Growth and Public Policy.

Dr Singh has published extensively and has two academic books to his credit, one published by Springer and the other by Cambridge University Press. He has also contributed significantly to the public domain through his writings in professional journals. He also contributes to discussions on current affairs in leading newspapers and important TV channels.

Dr Singh completed an M.Phil in Applied Economics from JNU, Delhi, and a PhD in Economics from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, in 1997. He followed it up with postdoctoral studies at the Department of Economics at Harvard University from Aug 2003 to Aug 2004, and at Stanford University from August 2004 to Jan 2006.

Topic: Biomedical Innovation in India: Co-creating Ecosystems for Health and Impact

Dr Sreevas Sahasranamam is a Professor of International Business and Entrepreneurship at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow. His research focuses on the strategic and ecosystem enablers of innovations and startups addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). His current projects explore entrepreneurship in rural ecosystems, innovation ecosystems for grand challenges, and the role of digital public infrastructure in entrepreneurship development. These are funded by the British Academy/Leverhulme Trust, the British Council, and the Government of India.

A regular contributor to the World Economic Forum and other global outlets, he won the 2024 Management Publication of the Year (Sustainable Futures) Award for his blog collection. In 2018, he was also shortlisted for the Financial Times–McKinsey Bracken Bowen Prize.

He is a co-leader of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) UK and has co-authored the GEM global report. His research has influenced national and international policy, featuring in the 2023 G20 Startup Policy Paper and UK and Scottish government reports. It has also received recognition from Indian government officials, including the Prime Minister.

Dr Sahasranamam co-chaired the G20 Startup20 Sustainability Taskforce (2023) and advised the ESG Taskforce under the Brazilian G20 presidency (2024). He is the Director of Community Enterprise in Scotland (CEIS), the UK’s leading social enterprise support agency.

Before joining the University of Glasgow, he was with the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at Strathclyde Business School. He holds a PhD from the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM K), which awarded him its inaugural Young Alumni Achievers Award.

Topic: The Role of Ecosystems and Policy for Deep Tech University Spin-Outs: Evidence From Germany

Prof. Dr Florian Täube is a distinguished economist and academic leader currently serving as the Head of Department for Start-ups at the RKW Competence Centre, where he spearheads initiatives to bolster the German entrepreneurial ecosystem. With a career spanning prestigious institutions such as the Wharton School and Imperial College London, he combines high-level research with practical policy advisory work, notably as a co-leader of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Germany and a member of the EXIST Expert Advisory Board for the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. His expertise centres on the intersection of innovation, international management, and social networks, with a particular focus on how migrant entrepreneurship and diverse demographics drive economic growth. In addition to his leadership roles, he continues to shape future business leaders as a Professor of International Business and Entrepreneurship at the CBS International Business School.

Topic: The Role of Universities in the Context of the Internationalisation of Startups

Joanna Stryjek is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of International Studies at SGH Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) in Poland. Her education covers degrees in: Political Science (Bachelor’s, Uppsala University, Sweden); Economic and Political International Relations (Master’s, double diploma – SGH and Sciences-Po Paris); Finance and Banking (Master’s, SGH); Economics (PhD, SGH). She specialises in innovation policy, national innovation systems, start-up ecosystems, and the economic, political, and security aspects of air pollution. Dr Stryjek participated in research and educational projects funded, e.g. by the European Commission, the National Bank of Poland, and the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education. In the years 2016-2020, she was the Vice-Dean of Undergraduate Studies (SGH).

Topic: Fiscal Incentives for Tech Startups and Deep Tech Startups and Its Implications

Dr Gayithri Karnam was a Professor at the Institute for Social and Economic Change and made an extensive contribution to policy research and PhD training. She specialises in public economics, industrial economics, and public policy studies. She has conducted extensive research in state fiscal studies, public expenditure planning and management, budget reforms, and fiscal incentives. She has served as an advisor on several state government committees and as a consultant to international donor agencies such as USAID and DFID on state-level fiscal studies. She has received the Shastri Indo-Canadian Faculty Research Fellowship twice to undertake comparative fiscal studies at Carleton University in Canada. She has undergone training at the Duke Centre for International Development, Duke University (Durham, USA) on aspects relating to ‘public budgeting and financial management’. She has also participated in the executive education program on ‘Public financial management in a changing world’ at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Boston. Served as a Senior Consultant, Fiscal Policy Institute, Government of Karnataka and currently is serving as Consultant, UN Women.

Topic: TBC

Ravi Jain leads India investments for TDK Ventures, the corporate venture arm of TDK Corporation—a global leader in magnetics, sensors, electronic components, power electronics, and energy solutions.

A technology entrepreneur and business leader, Ravi has a proven track record of taking companies from 0 to 1 and driving innovation at scale. He most recently spearheaded the launch of Ola Krutrim, India’s pioneering AI unicorn, after heading strategy for Ola, India’s leading ride-sharing company and GTM for Ola Electric, India’s leading EV company which went public.

Earlier, Ravi founded GenY Medium, a marketing technology firm that enabled enterprises and funded startups across India and North America to achieve tech-led growth. He also served as Principal of Investments at VenturEast, focusing on early-growth healthtech and cleantech, where his portfolio delivered strong M&A outcomes.

Ravi began his career as a Scientist at Procter & Gamble’s Technology Development Centre in Kobe, Japan, deepening his expertise in technology and innovation. He holds an Engineering degree from IIT Bombay and an MBA from the Indian School of Business.

Beyond work, Ravi is a badminton enthusiast, and passionate follower of emerging technologies.

Topic: Entrepreneurship Activities and Experience of IISc

Prof. B. Gurumoorthy is the Chief Executive of FSID and a senior Professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). An alumnus of IIT Madras and Carnegie Mellon University, he bridges the gap between academic research and industrial application.

At FSID, he spearheads the translation of deep-science discoveries into commercial products, overseeing critical initiatives like the STEM Cell incubator and the Pravriddhi product accelerator. His research in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computational Metrology has led to numerous patents and licensed technologies. A visionary in the Indian innovation ecosystem, he is dedicated to building a "Product Nation" by fostering high-tech entrepreneurship.

Topic: New and Emerging Startup Ecosystems : Insights from Tokyo

Prajakta Khare is Associate Professor of Economics and Social Entrepreneurship at Meiji Gakuin University, in Yokohama, Japan.

Her core research area is social entrepreneurship, social capital, and entrepreneurial ecosystems (focusing on Japan). She has done field work in India, investigating social networks of social enterprises and their scaling strategies. She pursued her postdoctoral research at Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo, and has been teaching both undergraduate and graduate level courses in Japan for over a decade. Apart from her academic writing, she has also contributed to dailies like The Japan Times, The Hindu, and The Hindu Business Line.

Topic: Research & Innovation for Deep-tech: Role of Universities & Beyond

Dr. Sudeendra Koushik is a seasoned innovation strategist and technology management professional, currently serving as Founder and Chief Innovator at Innovation by Design and President of IEEE TEMS. With a PhD in Innovation and advanced training from IIM Kozhikode, he brings over two decades of cross-industry experience, including leadership roles at Volvo, Philips, HCL, and TTK Prestige. Holding nearly 50 patents, he specialises in innovation management, talent development, and organisational culture transformation. A two-time TEDx speaker, academic contributor, and visiting professor, he is also recognised for his creative pursuits as a cartoonist, stand-up comedian, and actor.

Topic: AI Diffusion Across Industries: Shaping the Next Generation of DeepTech Founders

Mr. Thejasvi D.S. is the Founder of IREU School for Startups and CEO of IREU Group, an organization focused on advancing entrepreneurship-led education and innovation ecosystems.

With over two decades of global experience across technology and investment banking, he has held senior leadership roles at leading international financial institutions including ANZ, Barclays, UBS, JPMorgan, Deutsche Bank, and Citibank.

Through IREU School for Startups, he is committed to nurturing entrepreneurial talent and building platforms that enable aspiring founders to transform ideas into scalable ventures. He actively mentors early-stage startups and collaborates with universities and incubation ecosystems to promote deep-tech innovation and strengthen the startup ecosystem.

Topic: Entrepreneurial Thinking for Everyone - in the Age of AI

• Currently Founder at ETQ : Founded ETQ in Singapore to set up a global ecosystem of mindset based education, with a patented portfolio of evaluation products. ETQ’s Vision is to empower Entrepreneurial Mindset for everyone.
• Part of seed team of Silicon Hive, Netherlands, a start-up which pioneered making a processor chip software programmable in C. Acquired by Intel in 2011.
• Part of Philips Corporate incubator for incubating technology and healthcare based start-ups originating out of technologies from Philips Research labs in Netherlands.
• Investor & Director at RFIC Solutions, USA: a start-up developing Wireless & Satellite communication chips for the global markets.
• Director at iVP Semiconductors, India: Helped bootstrap a commodity semiconductor product line from scratch to commercialisation (early revenues) at iVP Semiconductors.
• Strategic advisor at iThings : helped expand their healthcare IOT platform to European markets, starting with Netherlands and UK.
• Part of the ambitious Philips Consumer Communications ‘start-up team’ in Singapore which had introduced Philips Mobile phones in the market, which eventually failed to take off. But the learning remains.
• Part of L&T Semiconductors(start-up operations of L&T group), helping bootstrap a couple of products from concept till production.
• Author of a pioneering book on the impact of Brain’s Plasticity on Entrepreneurial mindset with real life examples, and author’s own real life story - “Entrepreneurial Thinking Quotient – Master your Brains Plasticity for exponential career growth”.