To give a thrust to the technological development of the State, the Government of Gujarat along with the 500-strong Pan-IIT Gujarat Alumni Association will be organizing ‘The IIT Conclave: Technology and Development’ in Gujarat on Monday 11th January 2011 at Nirma University, Ahmedabad. The IIT Conclave will present and discuss various relevant issues such as addressing educational challenges for innovation and looking at alternate approaches to development in order to secure economic leadership for Gujarat in the 21st century. A few of the initiatives already taken by the alumni association and the State of Gujarat are also slated for discussion and announcement.

The MoUs will be signed between the Pan IIT Gujarat Alumni Association and the Government of Gujarat in various areas including castor production, improving agri productivity using nanotechnology, urban waste management, skills development in the state.

The conclave will also have international participation and is designed to bring together renowned thought leaders and industrialists including the former Chief Minister of Goa Mr Manohar Parrikar (IITian from Mumbai) and the Chief Minister of Gujarat Mr Narendra Modi for discussion as well as eminent IIT alumni from India and within Gujarat.

The conclave will include IIT alumni speakers like Mr Farrokh Mistree, Professor at University of Oklahoma and IIT Kharagpur alumnus; Mr Sammy Haroon, Managing Director, The RBR Group; and Dr. Prof. Rafiq Dossani, Executive Director, South Asian Institute, Stanford University.

Mr Maheshwar Sahu, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries & Mines Department, Government of Gujarat, said ‘The Government is committed to organizing knowledge-sharing events as part of the 5th edition of Vibrant Gujarat Summit. The IIT Conclave is one such important initiative which will bring together IIT alumni not only from the State but also from other parts of India and from abroad to discuss technological developments in the State and how to harness the intellectual capital for the benefit of the whole of society in Gujarat. I am sure that speakers of such high caliber will bring value to the conclave and pave the way forward for the further technological development of the State.’

The Founder-Chairman of the Pan-IIT Gujarat Alumni Association, Mr Sunil Parekh, an IIT Delhi Alumnus, said, ‘There are over 500 IIT Alumni working in Gujarat currently. They are contributing to Government, management of Public Sector Undertakings, education & academia, research institutions, business & private companies and in social development services. The Alumni is spread across the major cities of Ahmedabad, Surat, Baroda, Gandhinagar, Ankleshwar and Rajkot. The Government’s commitment to keep pace with global trends and make the shift to an innovation-driven society for the 21st century is very welcome. The IIT alumni are pleased to partner with the Government to help course an appropriate agenda for development in the State in this regard.’

Corporates like United Phosphorous Limited, Zydus Cadila, Suzlon and Torrent Power are actively supporting the association by donating funds to help PanIIT Gujarat take their technology development agenda further.

Interestingly, the Directors and Heads of major Gujarat based universities and institutions are IITians. Mr Pradyumna Vyas from NID; Mr Samir Barua from IIM-A; Prof Vasani from Nirma University; Dr Kao from IPR; Dr Maheshwari from Northern Guj Agri Uni; Mr Atul Tandon, Former Director of MICA; Dr Navalgund of SAC, Dr Utpal Sharma of CEPT, Dr Sahastrabudhe of DAIICT and more than 11 IAS officers in the Government of Gujarat are IIT graduates, besides several who are working and managing SEZs, PSUs, ONGC, GAIL, and several other cutting edge research and academic institutes in Gujarat.. Mr Jaynarayan Vyas, Hon’ble Minister of Health of the Gov of Gujarat is also an IIT Bombay Alumnus. Almost all leading pvt corporates like Reliance, Essar, L&T, Zydus, UPL, Torrent, Tata have professional with an IIT background.

About Pan-IIT Gujarat Alumni Association

Good quality higher education is crucial for creating young minds that can contribute to innovative ideas which are socially relevant and globally competitive. The IIT alumni at large are engaged in assisting with academic and research tie-ups between various leading global centres of higher education with those in Gujarat, as part of the Government’s and private universities drive to achieve and maintain global standards in the state’s universities, institutes and colleges.

The other founder board members are: Mr M Ranganathan, Mr S Gulati, Mr Anil Chand Mathur, Mr P Vyas, Mr R Shodhan, Mr R Kumar, Mr J Vin, Mr V Rathi and Mr Y Kathrecha.