IKP Knowledge Park (IKP) recently hosted the 17th International Knowledge Millennium Conference (IKMC2023) in Hyderabad, revolving around the theme “Shaping the Possible: Making Positive Impact In the Anthropocene.” The conference spanned two days, featuring impactful discussions and initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges presented by the Anthropocene.
The Anthropocene, the current geological epoch, highlights how human actions have become the dominant force reshaping Earth’s ecosystems and natural processes. Centuries of industrialization, agriculture, urbanization, and
other activities have led to climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and significant ecosystem alterations. The Anthropocene concept reminds us of our profound responsibility to acknowledge our impact on Earth and work toward a more sustainable future.
Day 1 Highlights: October 30, 2023
The conference commenced with the inauguration ceremony of the startup exhibition, featuring Dr. Jitendra Kumar,
MD of BIRAC, and Dr. Uday Desai, former Director of IIT Hyderabad, as distinguished guests. Over a hundred startups from various sectors participated at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey, including medical devices, digital health, industrial biotech, biopharma, agri-tech, and clean-tech. The plenary sessions revolved around three critical aspects of addressing global challenges in the Anthropocene:
Conceptualizing and Creating Impact for a Better Planet Constraints as a Source of Creativity The Importance of Partnerships in Finding Scalable Solutions to Global Problems Two round table discussions on Biomanufacturing and One Health followed, with more than twenty experts contributing to these critical dialogues.
Day 1 also witnessed IKP celebrating its longstanding partners and forging new collaborations. IKP recognized its enduring partners and champions of the innovation ecosystem, including BIRAC, JSS Academy of Education and Research, RICH, T-HUB, and TiE Hyderabad. The day concluded with an awards ceremony presided over by Sri Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries, IT&C, Government of Telangana.
Day 2 Highlights: October 31, 2023, Held at the Genome Valley at the IKP
Day 2 of IKMC2023 was held at IKP’s Genome Valley campus in Hyderabad. It was dedicated to providing startups and entrepreneurs with valuable insights and resources to fuel their growth. Three workshops were conducted, focusing on key areas of interest to startups:
Regulatory Strategy for Medical Devices: Experts guided over 150
startups and entrepreneurs in navigating the complex regulatory landscape for medical devices.
Intellectual Property Management:
Attendees received guidance on protecting their intellectual property, a crucial aspect of innovation and business
growth.
Negotiating Investment Term Sheets:
Startups learned essential strategies for negotiating investment term sheets, vital for securing funding and expanding their operations.
These workshops provided practical knowledge and tools to empower startups on their journey to success. Additionally, more than 70 startups participated in a dynamic startup product exhibition, fostering networking and collaboration opportunities. IKP solidified partnerships with two esteemed educational institutions: NALSAR University of Law to focus on intellectual property, technology management, and commercialization, where legal and business aspects converge to support innovation. And with Srinidhi Institute of Science and Technology to strengthen technology transfer and knowledge dissemination, nurturing future technological advancements.
Towards the conclusion of IKMC2023, IKP announced the second cohort of “IKP Fellows,” a group comprising select
IKP-affiliated startups. These fellows will receive support to expand their presence into international markets, facilitating global growth and collaboration. The conference attracted more than 70 visionaries, innovators, business leaders, and researchers. Additionally, it drew over a hundred startups and 800 participants, contributing to a vibrant atmosphere of knowledge exchange and collaboration. Deepanwita Chattopadhyay, Chairman and
CEO of IKP Knowledge Park expressed her gratitude to all delegates and attendees for making IKMC2023 another
resounding success. She invited everyone to join the next edition, emphasizing the continued
commitment to fostering innovation and addressing the global challenges of our time.
