Cracking the code: Technovate for India bridges the gap between talent andtechnology among youth

Published On : 2024-11-26T13:21:18+0530 [ IST ] | Author : Mayur_Tembhare
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For a society aiming to be technologically driven, an aspect India has already made inroads into, it is vital to have a robust ecosystem across the board that helps encourage creativity, supports growth and crucially helps innovators turn their creative ideas into scalable

The inaugural Technovate for India was held in the leading IT hub and engineering powerhouse Chennai. The event highlighted India’s booming startup ecosystem and its potential to transform the talent-technology landscape.

Industry leaders shared insights on how India is fostering innovation creating opportunities and building bridges between talent and industry needs. For a tech-driven future they stressed the importance of a robust ecosystem that nurtures creativity, supports growth and translates ideas into scalable solutions.

Keynote insightsVanita Venugopal: CEO, Tamil Nadu Technology Hub

Programmes that have been trialled in this sector have been met with incredible success in terms of how positively they have impacted not only the confidence of students but also that of investors and industry leaders who will then continue to feed - and build - this growing ecosystem not just in urban hubs but also in tier

She highlighted Chennai's role as an IT hub contributing 10% of India's IT services and outlined plans to further amplify this impact. To nurture deep-tech innovation she advocated seeing talent as a human asset rather than just commercial value with governments playing a crucial role

She Ms. Venugopal highlighted "disruptive education" where emerging technologies integrate into a school curriculum. This transformation fills industry skill gaps and establishes technological learning as foundational.

She also emphasised technology as an enabler, not a replacement, urging startups to focus on human interaction and values. Ethical, empathetic innovation is powerful when “guided by collaboration and collective genius.”

She touched on the need for all-round support for those looking to transform technology. A system with checks and balances ensures an ecosystem that works from the ground up.

SPEAKER #2

Kissflow Founder and SaaS Pioneer

Kissflow founder and SaaS pioneer Suresh Sambandam stressed the role of education in Tamil Nadu's progress. He noted the state's engineering focus has led to a "job-seeking mindset" but stressed rekindling entrepreneurship among tech graduates.

Central to this vision is fostering startups not just in major cities but inclusively across districts. By engaging women and promoting MSMEs Tamil Nadu can leverage its industrial base to innovate sustainable, market-ready solutions.

Sambandam addressed Technovate participants on the urgency of creating scalable startups from small ideas. “You must build your brands and put your logos on the map,” he said.

A major key to achieving that much-sought-after trillion-dollar economy is attracting industry giants, promoting the MSMEs that already exist within the state’s framework and the most crucial of all:

He stresses the importance of building innovation in an inclusive fashion. Distributing development will make each district an economic powerhouse in its own right. A focus on development" target="_blank">inclusive development by engaging districts and actively involving women fosters ideas that enable people to create impact

He quoted case studies that allowed for Tamil Nadu state’s already existing industrial infrastructure to adapt waste materials into not only raw materials but a finished product that could go to market entirely - an analogy for gestating a strong culture of entrepreneurship among the innovators

A number of regulations required suppliers from entrepreneurial solutions that exist but have not yet been scaled up to the level they are needed - thus setting the stage for the problem statement given to the students participating in Technovate for India Chennai2024.

He addressed the students at the Chennai conclave saying: “You are the folks who have to build your brands and put your logos on the map. His initiative takes startups from the idea stage to funding to scale - making what may seem like - and well start off as -

Problem statement: Bridging the skills gap

Despite thriving sectors like automotives textiles electronics and IT Tamil Nadu graduates face employability challenges due to limited digital proficiency and soft skills. To bridge this gap targeted guidance is essential.

Technovate participants were tasked with addressing this issue. Teams proposed solutions to enhance graduate employability by focusing on digital skills development and aligning education with industry needs.

Winning solution

The Chennai edition concluded with the SRM Institute of Science and Technology team clinching first place for their innovative platform SageTree an AI-driven upskilling tool designed to address employment gaps.

The team from SRM prefaced their solution with solid data points that really brought home their point. “With 92% of jobs today requiring digital skills and not as many who possess them,” they began.

The team highlighted a lack of learning expectations or a clear path for students to follow and a lack of inclusivity across the board with English being the lingua franca for digital skills development - thereby preventing a number of grassroots innovators

Online resources for upskilling and learning are abundant but often uncurated leading to wasted time in finding the right ones. Graduates from non-technical backgrounds face fragmented, impersonal and language-restricted learning opportunities.

A look at their solutions

SageTree: A personalised upskilling platform

Team SRM identified a critical issue: one-third of workers lack essential digital skills hindering their employability in a market where 92% of jobs demand them.

AI-generated learning paths:The platform creates personalised AI trees representing each learner's journey, curating resources based on their goals.

Automated resource aggregation:It integrates learning materials from various platforms saving users time and effort.

Community support:SageTree fosters collaboration through mentorship marketplaces and group sessions for targeted skill development.

Gamification: Rewards for skill advancement keep users motivated.

Language inclusion:Multilingual support ensures accessibility for grassroots innovators.

SageTree also lists job opportunities in both tech and non-tech sectors bridging the gap between skills and employment. The platform's goal is to make upskilling inclusive, impactful and scalable globally.

The road ahead

Technovate for India’s Chennai edition has laid the foundation for transformative innovation by empowering students to tackle real-world challenges. With events like these India moves closer to becoming a global hub for technology and innovation turning its immense talent pool into a

Congratulations to Priya Akrish and Ritam of SRM Institute of Science and Technology for their visionary contribution to the future of work!

Disclaimer: This article was produced by the Times Internet team on behalf of Technovate for India a collaborative initiative of Talrop and TheTimes of India.

Source : Reporters From Sunrise Chronicles

Tags : She , Problem , Tamil Nadu Technology , Indialaunched , He , Bridging , skillssaas pioneer suresh sambandam emphasised , Graduates , Language , tamilpersonalised upskilling platformteam srm identified ,

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