IMI Kolkata recently hosted the 19th ISDSI Global Conference 2025, a four-day event that brought together academic leaders, researchers, and industry executives from 26 countries. The conference, focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, concluded with nine startups securing investment commitments totaling Rs 5.1 crore .
The event addressed technology-enabled growth and management education, aligning discussions with India’s development goals. It saw participation from all 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), alongside universities, business schools, and incubators.
Startup Investments and Acceleration
A central feature of the conference was the global investment summit, managed by IMI Kolkata’s business incubator, IKN Innovation Foundation. Fifty-seven startups presented their business ideas to investors during the summit.
Following presentations, nine selected startups received investment commitments amounting to Rs 5.1 crore. IMI Kolkata will provide ongoing support to these startups through its incubation framework. The conference also launched Grameen NEEV, a sustainability accelerator programme developed in partnership with the Grameen Foundation for Social Impact.
Global Participation and Research Focus
ISDSI reported that the conference received 1,218 research paper submissions and 220 business and startup ideas from participants across 26 countries. This global engagement highlighted the conference’s role as a key platform for management research in India.
Academic discussions covered diverse topics relevant to the future of business and education. Key areas included:
- The future of Master of Business Administration (MBA) education.
- Technology and digitalization in management.
- The role of business schools in India’s net-zero transition.
- Indian Knowledge Systems in management.
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.
- Research capacity building for scholars.
The programme included an ESG masterclass, a doctoral colloquium, and research workshops. These sessions aimed to support early-career scholars and further the conference’s focus on research and enterprise development.
Key Leaders and Insights
Multiple plenary sessions and panels featured directors and senior representatives from leading Indian and international institutions. These included:
- IIM Ahmedabad
- IIM Calcutta
- IIM Lucknow
- IIM Tiruchirappalli
- IIM Ranchi
- IIM Sambalpur
- SPJIMR
- FORE School of Management
- IMT Ghaziabad
- IMT Hyderabad
- IIT Kharagpur (VG-SOM)
- Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics
- IILM
International accreditation bodies such as EFMD, AACSB, and AMBABGA also had representatives present. Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIM Ahmedabad, delivered the inaugural address, focusing on “Tech for Net Zero: Digital Solutions for a Sustainable Planet.” He stated that India must use technology for societal and national benefit, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Mohua Banerjee, Director of IMI Kolkata, concluded the conference. She noted that hosting the event strengthened collaborative ties with a multidisciplinary global community of scholars, practitioners, and industry leaders. IMI Kolkata aims to provide platforms where research, dialogue, and future-oriented solutions converge.