CII’s INNOVERGE 2025: To accentuate AI and Digital Transformation as Catalysts for Developed India

By R Anil Kumar

• The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is set to host the 21st edition of its flagship India Innovation Summit – INNOVERGE 2025, on October 10–11, 2025

• With Bengaluru’s unparalleled ecosystem of technology, research, start-ups, and talent, the city continues to be the natural home for this prestigious summit, which aims to align industry, policy, and academia

• This year’s theme, “Make in India, Developed India & Digital India,” underscores India’s accelerating journey toward technological leadership, with a sharp focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Transformation as key enablers of national growth and sustainability

• A special session on “Innovation & Strategy in Warfare” by the Indian Army in Operation Sindoor will highlight innovation from a national security perspective

Bengaluru, October 8, 2025. CII’s 21st edition of its flagship India Innovation Summit – Innoverge 2025, themed “Make in India, Developed India & Digital India” scheduled on 10–11 October 2025 at The Taj West End, Bengaluru, will spotlight Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Transformation as key drivers of India’s growth, sustainability, and global leadership in innovation.

The Summit is led by esteemed committee of the leaders who have led innovation with passion and commitment, the summit mentor Mr Kris Gopalakrishnan, Past President CII & Chairman, Axilor Ventures & Co-Founder Infosys Ltd. views “India’s future competitiveness hinges on strengthening its Research and Development (R&D) ecosystem, which requires increased investment, improved infrastructure, and stronger collaboration between academia and industry.

While India has made good strides in R&D, particularly in sectors like defence and pharmaceuticals, gaps remain compared to global benchmarks, especially in terms of R&D spending as a percentage of GDP and the number of researchers. Strengthening collaboration between research institutions and industries is crucial for translating research into practical applications and commercial products.

“India needs to prioritize R&D in emerging technologies like AI, biotechnology, and renewable energy to stay competitive in the global landscape.”

Mr Kamal Bali, Chairman CII India Innovation Summit & President & Managing Director Volvo Group India Pvt Ltd highlights that “India is undergoing a remarkable transformation. The vision is to make the country independent and self-reliant in all senses: Aatmanirbhar Bharat – Economy, Infrastructure, System, Vibrant Demography and Demand. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a game-changer in India’s growing sector’s, automating processes, improving quality, and optimizing supply chains.

Key industries such as aerospace, defence, automotive, and healthcare technology stand to benefit significantly. With this background & to bring in a lot more future focus on “Make in India, Developed India & Digital India”, the 21^st Edition of CII India Innovation Summit focuses on collaboration with all the stakeholders for a futuristic world of high-end innovation.

The two-day summit will also host the Innovation Showcase & Tech Walkthroughs, offering a glimpse into cutting-edge technologies and breakthrough ideas shaping India’s innovation journey.

The event will further celebrate visionary leaders and organizations through the INNOVERGE Recognitions 2025, honouring India’s innovation champions. A special session on “Innovation & Strategy in Warfare” by the Indian Army in Operation Sindoor will highlight innovation from a national security perspective.

With Bengaluru’s unparalleled ecosystem of technology, research, start-ups, and talent, the city continues to be the natural home for this prestigious summit, which aims to align industry, policy, and academia towards realizing the vision of a Make in India, Developed India, and Digital India.

The Summit will highlight the transformation in Energy and Mobility, Mr N Venu, Past Chairman CII Karnataka and industry stalwart in Energy sector shares that “The convergence of mobility, digital transformation and energy transition can drive sustainable development. The ecosystem transformation enablers, namely: availability of renewable energy, the infrastructure required, new energy supplier network, customer demand, the product and services offerings, as well as future skill demands will be catalyzed by partnership across stakeholders and adoption of AI.”

Another key area which will be deliberated upon is Entrepreneurship and Startups, which Mr Rabindra Srikantan Chairman CII Karnataka notes “For India to emerge as a global economic powerhouse and meet its Viksit Bharat ambitions, Startups along with small and micro enterprises must play a central role for, in their growth lies the ability to make a significant contribution to GDP, exports, and employment generation.

AI has the potential to be a key enabler, helping entrepreneurs unlock new opportunities by making innovation more accessible and affordable. For Indian entrepreneurs, it could also help level the playing field to be globally competitive.

In the Summit, Manufacturing & Logistics will form a major focus area, with Mr Guruprasad Mudlapur Vice Chairman CII Karnataka views that “AI will drive the growth in Manufacturing & Logistics sector.

It will involve the adoption of technology for tactical and operational decision making, routing, fleet optimisation, data analysis, or strategic. AI Led Innovation is a way to promote cutting-edge research, entrepreneurial risk-taking, and global integration and logistics integration for India in Manufacturing & Logistics sector.”

Supported by Companies who have pioneered innovation in their respective sectors Volvo Group, RSB Transmission, Lakshmi Machine Works, Maini Group, 3M India, Kennametal, EY India, Paradeep Phosphates, ASM Technologies, Bosch India, Hitachi Energy, Infosys Ltd, Manipal hospitals, Kauvery Hospitals, Sona Stars, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and others, the format will include a Tech Showcase and Innoverge Recognitions (an initiative fostering a culture of innovation) apart from industry leaders deliberating on the topics.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS:

Strengthening India’s R&D Ecosystem

INNOVERGE 2025 is mentored by CII Past President, Axilor Ventures Chairman and Infosys Cofounder Kris Gopalakrishnan.

Emphasizing the importance of research-driven innovation, CII Past President, Axilor Ventures Chairman and Infosys Cofounder Kris Gopalakrishnan said India’s future competitiveness hinges on strengthening its Research and Development (R&D) ecosystem, which requires increased investment, improved infrastructure, and stronger collaboration between academia and industry.

AI as a Game-Changer for Indian Industry

CII India Innovation Summit Chairman and Volvo Group India Pvt Ltd President & Managing Director Kamal Bali highlighted India’s transformation journey under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

He remarked,“India is undergoing a remarkable transformation to become self-reliant in every sense—economy, infrastructure, systems, and demand. AI is emerging as a game-changer across sectors, automating processes, improving quality, and optimizing supply chains. This summit will serve as a platform to align stakeholders around the vision of a futuristic, innovation-driven India,” said CII India Innovation Summit Chairman and Volvo Group India Pvt Ltd President & Managing Director Kamal Bali.

The event will also feature Innovation Showcases and Tech Walkthroughs, offering participants a first-hand look at breakthrough technologies reshaping sectors like aerospace, defence, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and mobility.

Innovation for National Security

A special highlight of the summit will be a session titled “Innovation & Strategy in Warfare,” led by the Indian Army’s Operation Sindoor team, exploring how technological innovation is redefining national security and defence preparedness.

Energy, Mobility, and the Convergence of Technologies

Discussing the intersection of digital transformation, sustainability, and energy transition, CII Karnataka Past Chairman and a noted energy industry leader N Venu stated the convergence of mobility, digital transformation, and energy transition can drive sustainable development.

“Renewable energy, infrastructure readiness, and future skill demands will be catalyzed through cross-sector collaboration and AI adoption,” said CII Karnataka Past Chairman N Venu.

Entrepreneurship and Startups: The Growth Engine

CII Karnataka Chairman Rabindra Srikantan emphasised the central role of startups in achieving India’s Viksit Bharat aspirations.

“Startups, along with small and micro enterprises, must play a pivotal role in driving GDP growth, exports, and employment generation. AI can make innovation more accessible and affordable, helping Indian entrepreneurs compete on a global scale,” said CII Karnataka Chairman Rabindra Srikantan.

Manufacturing, Logistics, and the AI Revolution

CII Karnataka Vice Chairman Guruprasad Mudlapur highlighted how AI will redefine manufacturing and logistics in India.

“AI-led innovation will revolutionize decision-making, fleet optimization, and data analysis. It is key to promoting cutting-edge research, entrepreneurial risk-taking, and global logistics integration in these sectors.”

Industry Collaboration and Recognition

The summit is supported by leading companies that have pioneered innovation in their sectors — including Volvo Group, RSB Transmission, Lakshmi Machine Works, Maini Group, 3M India, Kennametal, EY India, Paradeep Phosphates, ASM Technologies, Bosch India, Hitachi Energy, Infosys Ltd, Manipal Hospitals, Kauvery Hospitals, Sona Stars, and Toyota Kirloskar Motor.

In addition to insightful deliberations, Innoverge 2025 will host the Innoverge Recognitions, celebrating visionary leaders and organizations that are driving India’s innovation story forward.

Bengaluru: The Innovation Capital

With Bengaluru’s robust ecosystem of technology companies, research institutions, startups, and talent, the city continues to serve as the natural home for this flagship summit. Over the years, CII Innoverge has evolved into one of India’s most respected platforms for innovation-focused dialogue, influencing industry strategy and national policy alike.