Kolkata (West Bengal)

The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur), India’s first IIT and a premier hub for engineering and scientific research, will host the inaugural Impact RISE CSR Conclave on January 17-18, 2026, at the IIT KGP Research Park in Newtown, Kolkata.

Themed “Forging Futures: Engineering Social Change – Converging Capital, Innovation, and Action,” the two-day conclave aims to unite government officials, industry leaders, academicians, impact investors, and philanthropic organizations to promote sustainable development through research, innovation, skilling, and entrepreneurship (RISE).

“The conclave provides an annual platform for outcome-driven, technology-enabled partnerships, transforming scientific research into practical solutions for India’s pressing challenges,” said Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director of IIT Kharagpur.

Key highlights of the event include the launch of the IIT KGP Impact Portfolio, signing of multiple MoUs and strategic agreements with nationally significant organizations, introduction of sustainable startups, certification programs, campus development initiatives, and the announcement of a national youth entrepreneurship program.

Distinguished attendees include Hon’ble Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav (Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change), ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, Dr. Amitabha Ghosh (NASA Pathfinder Mission), 51st Chief Justice Shri Sanjiv Khanna, Dr. K.N. Vyas (Ex-Director, BARC), Shri Vibhu Nayar (IAS, Ex-Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs), and Shri Gopal Singh (Ex-CMD, CIL), along with PSU leaders, academicians, and impact investors.

Day 1 (January 17) will feature registration and flag hoisting, a welcome address by the IIT Kharagpur Director, a keynote speech by the ISRO Chairman, thematic breakout sessions, impact leadership talks, a Sandbox ideation workshop on achieving a net-zero campus and sustainable villages, two book launches, followed by a cultural program.

Day 2 (January 18) will cover technology’s role in sustainability, a panel on CSR 2.0 moderated by Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, discussions on assistive technologies, local governance, Panchayati Raj, and AI-driven human capital transformation. Hon’ble Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav will deliver the valedictory address at the closing ceremony.

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Shri Sunil Kumar Gupta, IAS (Retd.), Chief of Strategy, Execution & Operations at IIT Kharagpur Research Park, stated: “Our approach is simple: develop in our labs, pilot on campus, and scale solutions globally with accountability and purpose.”

The conclave highlights IIT Kharagpur’s Platinum Jubilee commitment to translating innovation into tangible societal impact and fostering sustainable, scalable solutions.