Rohan Khaunte highlights Government’s collaborative efforts with academia and industry at GIST 2025

Goa Khabar : Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, the third edition of the Goa Innovation and Startup Times (GIST 2025) was held on Friday, October 31, 2025 at Vivanta Goa, Panjim. The event brought together a diverse group of entrepreneurs, government officials, academicians, industry experts, startups and students. 

Organised by BITS Pilani’s BITS BioCyTitH Foundation, GIST 2025 took place in collaboration with the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Goa Technology Association (GTA), Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).

*In his address, Chief Guest, Rohan Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology, Tourism and Printing & Stationary said,* “Goa is committed to nurturing its startup ecosystem by providing mentorship, infrastructure and financial support to emerging entrepreneurs. With 703 startups already registered under DPIIT, the State is positioning itself as a hub for innovation, where creativity and technology converge.”

Highlighting the inclusive approach being adopted in the policy-making process, the Minister further emphasised that the Government is open to taking inputs and has been working collaboratively with academia and industry to shape policies for the State. “The Goa AI Mission 2027 is a prime example of this vision, aiming to make the State a leader in emerging technologies and AI, fostering not only a thriving business environment but also empowering Goa’s youth to be job creators, not just job seekers,” he added.

The event featured insightful talks on emerging technology trends, alongside powerful panel discussions. One of the key panels titled, ‘Innovation by the Seaside-Technology drivers’, brought together industry leaders, including K Bhattacharyya, MD, Putzmeister, Dr. P Kamat, Co-founder, Suzega, S Chittore, Founder and CEO, Quantum AI Global and M Tiwari, CEO, Ethernet Xpress. The panel, moderated by Dr A. Pethe, Sr. Technologist, Texas Instruments, highlighted the transformative potential of AI and Quantum technologies in reshaping innovation paths for startups and established industries, stressing the importance of strategic adoption. The panelists also shared valuable insights and tips with the youngsters.

Another engaging panel, ‘Science, Policy and Sustainability,’ explored real-world applications and challenges in communities and industries, while also discussing the vast opportunities available to tackle key Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) issues. The session was moderated by Dr Jennifer Lewis, President, ISHRAE and included Prof. A Parulekar, Director, GIM, Dr. B Manjunath, ED, Syngenta, M K Patil, Former Chairman, Goa State Pollution Control Board and Ms Tripti Somani, Founder of Womennovator, as panelists.

Speaking on the occasion, Guest of Honour, Revathi Kamath, Entrepreneur, Environmentalist, Educationist and Philanthropist, emphasised the urgent need to make education and technology more accessible to rural and underprivileged children. She urged entrepreneurs to take responsibility for social change and contribute towards national development and inclusive growth.

The event prominently spotlighted women entrepreneurs through a dedicated Women Entrepreneurship Camp. In addition, it highlighted innovation through an interesting exposition by startups and translation research projects. A closed-door Startup Investing Pitching session provided valuable opportunities for emerging businesses to secure funding and partnerships.