Innovators Conclave 2026 Draws Over 3,000 Students, 300 Startups
The first day featured leadership discussions on industry-scale innovation, institution building, strategic technologies, national security and India's technological self-reliance.
ANANTAPUR: Innovators Conclave 2026 began at the NTR Auditorium of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Anantapur (JNTUA) on Saturday, bringing together over 3,000 students, representatives of more than 300 startups and over 80 industry leaders for a two-day event focused on innovation, entrepreneurship and industry-academia collaboration.
The first day featured leadership discussions on industry-scale innovation, institution building, strategic technologies, national security and India's technological self-reliance.
Industry leaders and academic experts shared their experiences on building sustainable innovation ecosystems, strengthening institutional capabilities and preparing young professionals to address emerging technological challenges.
A student hackathon also began as part of the conclave, encouraging participants to develop technology-based solutions to real-world challenges. The initiative focuses on creativity, teamwork, problem-solving and the practical application of technical knowledge.
Parallel technical sessions gave students an opportunity to explore emerging technologies, interact with industry professionals and learn about career and entrepreneurial opportunities.
The conclave aims to strengthen collaboration among educational institutions, startups, industries, researchers and innovators. It seeks to promote mentorship, research partnerships, technology transfer and entrepreneurship while helping students align their academic learning with industry requirements.
The organisers thanked JNTUA management and Vice-Chancellor Dr H. Sudarsana Rao for their support and for providing the university as the venue for the event. They said such initiatives enable students to interact with experienced professionals, understand industry expectations and explore ways to turn academic knowledge into practical solutions.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by JNTUA Vice-Chancellor Dr H. Sudarsana Rao, Sri Krishnadevaraya University Vice-Chancellor Prof. N. V. R. Jyotikumar, former Andhra Pradesh special chief secretary J. A. Chowdary, Accenture global managing director Gopal Pingali, Tata AIG board member Vijaya Deepti P. H., IEEE India country head and senior director Dr Srikanth Chandrasekaran, and Ether Wing Aerospace CEO Manegar Sarmas Vali.
