Chief Minister to Inaugurate KSUM’s IEDC Summit on Thursday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the eighth edition of Asia’s largest conclave for aspiring student entrepreneurs, IEDC (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centres) Summit, organised by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) in association with the College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET) on October 12.

Minister for Higher Education and Social Justice Dr R Bindu will preside over the function which will be attended by Dr Rathan U Kelkar, Secretary, Electronics and IT, Government of Kerala, and KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika.

‘Circle of Innovation’ will be the theme of the event which aims to bring together innovators from various domains. Starting at 11.00 a.m. at CET’s campus here, the conclave will be addressed by leading personalities and entrepreneurs.

The IEDC Summit, which expects more than 10,000 participants, aims to create awareness and identify potential entrepreneurs, right at the undergraduate level.

KSUM has about 453 IEDCs functioning in various educational institutions across Kerala thereby providing avenues for students to learn collaborate and transform their innovative ideas into prototypes of viable products and services. They work on domains ranging from agriculture, medicine to polytechnic and engineering.

Emphasizing the significance of IEDC Summit in boosting student innovators, KSUM CEO Shri Anoop Ambika said the event will provide a kickstart to aspiring student innovators and young entrepreneurship enthusiasts.

By enhancing technical know-how, facilitating skill development, and fostering financial literacy the summit will help in widening the perspective of student innovators, he said.

Ishita Roy, Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Government of Kerala, Dr Saji Gopinath, Vice Chancellor, Kerala Technological University and Digital University of Kerala, and Dr Savier J S, Principal, CET will attend the inaugural ceremony. Geromic George, District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram and Tom Thomas, Chief Operating Officer (COO), KSUM will attend the valedictory function.

IEDC Summit 2023 will bring together the most ambitious and innovative student entrepreneurs from across the state to share their ideas, experiences, and knowledge. The summit is an amalgamation of events from a range of domains, including technology, entrepreneurship, and skill development, among others. It facilitates a platform for connecting student innovators, industry leaders, and various startups in addition to providing an opportunity for them to engage and network.

A premier event, the IEDC Summit will have the presence of more than 453 colleges, 350 plus startups, 60 plus speakers, and 40 plus events.

Besides setting a platform for networking, product showcase, and flea market, the summit will also have idea pitching, hackathons, ideathons, challenges, masterclasses, workshops, etc.

Each of the events has been specifically curated to cater to the needs of aspiring student entrepreneurs adhering to the theme of the summit. The event expects to serve as a starting point for aspiring student entrepreneurs, thereby promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala Government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.