Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education highlights the role of AI in transforming research in India at ISB Insights Forum 2024

 The Indian School of Business (ISB) hosted the second edition of its Insights Forum today (16 Nov) at its Hyderabad campus. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Education, Government of India, inaugurated the event with a keynote address, where he emphasised the pivotal role of research in shaping India’s future. The forum brought together thought leaders from academia, industry, and government to explore how research-driven solutions can address some of the country’s most pressing challenges.

Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan emphasised the importance of educate to innovate, highlighting its role as a guiding philosophy, for ISB to prepare students to transition from education to solving real-world business challenges. He expressed his enthusiasm for ISB’s strategic focus on research, noting that when non-state institutions like ISB prioritise research, it leads to societal benefits. The minister underscored the need to concentrate on research across various fields, including both STEM and social sectors such as economics. He stated that the current education policy aims to foster a research-centric society and stressed the importance of multidisciplinary education.

He also highlighted the significance of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in transforming communication within India. He envisioned a future where AI enables seamless conversations between individuals from different linguistic backgrounds, facilitating interactions between people from around the world and Indians from diverse regions. This advancement is expected to greatly benefit the education sector, as well as other sectors. The minister acknowledged ISB’s role in advancing AI as a general-purpose technology and anticipated further progress as people’s experiences become integrated into technological developments.

In his valedictory address, Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog, shared his insights on India@2047. He also underlined the need to focus on developing a prosperous and inclusive India. Investing in research and development and innovation is imperative for a developed India, he highlighted. Shri Subrahmanyam also called on the need to develop entrepreneurial talent in the country, Deep tech, AI and other related areas.

Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, ISB, expressed his gratitude to all dignitaries for attending the event and highlighted the critical role of research at ISB. He said, “We are deeply honoured by the presence of Shri Dharmendra Pradhan at the Insights Forum 2024. His support underscores the government’s commitment to advancing research in Indian institutions. This remarkable investment paves the way for transformative advancements in academia, industry, and policymaking. At ISB, we believe that rigorous and relevant research is the cornerstone of business education. Our faculty’s work, such as exploring the link between health insurance and credit markets or improving food grain distribution efficiency, exemplifies how academic insights can have real-world implications. We look forward to fostering enriching discussions and valuable connections today, which will undoubtedly contribute to meaningful change across sectors.”

The forum featured a distinguished lineup of speakers including Dr. Ajay Kumar Sood, Deputy Managing Director, NABARD; Dr. Karan Avtar Singh, IAS (Retd), Chairperson, Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority (PWRDA); Ms. Savithri Parekh, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, Reliance Industries Limited; Mr. Prithvijit Roy, Leader – Global AI Hub, Accenture; Ms. Trishna Shah, Principal PM Lead, Microsoft.

The ISB Insights Forum, launched in 2023, is an annual research showcase, and a platform to spotlight key research shaping management discourse in India and around the globe.