The two day Research, Industry, Startup, Entrepreneurship (RISE) Conclave 2026 held on 14-15 February, 2026 concluded at the Chennai Trade Centre, bringing research, leaders, industry experts, startups and policymakers onto one platform.
The conclave was inaugurated by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh who delivered a sharp and direct message on jobs innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Government jobs alone cannot be the primary aspiration. India’s innovation ecosystem has matured and opportunities are now available on a mobile phone.”
– Dr Jitendra Singh
Minister of State for Science and Technology, Government of India
He called for an industry-driven startup culture and urged Tamil Nadu to leverage its strong academic and research base more aggressively.
The Minister highlighted India’s dramatic startup growth. From around 350 recognised startups in 2014 the country has now crossed 2 lakh startups generating over 21 lakh jobs.
India’s global innovation standing has also seen a significant jump. The country’s Global Innovation Index ranking has moved from 81 to 38. India now ranks sixth globally in patent filings with most patents filed by Indian residents.
Dr Jitendra Singh stressed that innovation is not limited to IT or artificial intelligence. He pointed to traditional sectors like leather, agriculture and manufacturing as strong startup opportunities.
He cited schemes such as PM Vishwakarma Yojana which support artisans with funding, training, stipends and modern tools.
Senior leaders from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research played a central role in the conclave. Participants included Dr Kalaiselvi along with directors of CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre and CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute.
The event witnessed the exchange of umbrella MoUs between CSIR academic institutions incubators, startups and industry partners. A Centre of Excellence in partnership with Larsen & Toubro was virtually inaugurated during the programme.
A major highlight of the conclave was the Startup Expo. Over 140 startups and MSMEs showcased their products and services, spanning engineering materials, construction, chemicals and leather innovation.
The Department of Leather Technology, Anna University’s Entrepreneurship Club Frontline Leaders and Young Entrepreneurs Resources for Startups (FLYERS) also organised a pitch battle, allowing students to showcase their entrepreneurial abilities, while leading entrepreneurs evaluated their ideas and performance.
Throughout the sessions one theme dominated discussions. Research must move beyond laboratories and convert into scalable technologies, market-ready products and sustainable businesses.
