IISc Bangalore Hosts BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Promotion Programme

“The third Sputnik moment is ‘DeepSeek’. We are in a DeepSeek moment. The DeepSeek moment is also visible in many other aspects of DeepTech for tomorrow. China has not only developed a cutting-edge Gen AI platform but has also opened it through OpenAI,” said Prof. Vijay Chandru, an adjunct faculty member at the BioSystems Science & Engineering Department and visiting professor at the Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber-physical Systems at IISc, Bengaluru.

He was the chief guest at the “BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Pre-Consultation Event” at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, in collaboration with the Global Counter Terrorism Council (GCTC) and the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, hosted the BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Pre-Consultation & Idea-Based Competition. The event brought together young innovators, entrepreneurs, industry experts, and policymakers to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in India.

Under the theme, “Deep Tech for Tomorrow: Youth-Led Innovations Driving India’s Leadership in Emerging Technologies,” the program promoted the entrepreneurial spirit among youth, facilitated mentorship opportunities, and provided a platform for startups to showcase their ideas.

In his speech, an academic, serial entrepreneur, and advisor Prof. Vijay Chandru highlighted the ongoing “DeepSeek moment,” a term describing the rapid advancements in DeepTech. Prof. Chandru pointed out that 31% of the drugs in clinical trials are now sourced from China, with Chinese companies significantly increasing their share of pharma licensing deals, rising from 5% in 2020.

Chandru emphasized how China’s biotech industry is developing drugs more efficiently and affordably than its U.S. counterparts. He traced China’s economic rise, from parity with India in 1990 to becoming five times larger by 2018, to innovation and deep tech. He urged the youth to focus on innovation and Deep Tech as a pathway to realizing the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.

A pioneer in genomics-based precision medicine, Chandru is the founder of Strand Life Sciences, a leader in computational biology. Strand has a multidisciplinary team of scientists, and under his leadership, it has advanced the field of genomics in India. He was recognized as a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2007.

Reflecting on the history of innovation, he noted that while the 1980s saw support for basic research, the system often favuored applied research, leaving fundamental research behind. Innovation was rooted in post-World War II or WWII was ending the idea created to form the National Science Foundation and drive innovation through the higher education system and there were certain biases.

He called for a rethink of this approach and stressed the importance of combining ideas with AI foundation tools to drive “super convergence” in technology.

Chandru also highlighted IISc’s contribution to personal computing, noting the Simputer, a precursor to the iPhone, as an example of India’s potential for tech innovation. He concluded with a concrete example of innovation: the Strand Cancer Spot Test, an affordable early cancer detection tool priced at just ₹15,000 in India—significantly cheaper than its U.S. counterpart, which costs between $1,000 and $15,000.

Another speaker at the conference N.S. Vishwanathan, former Deputy Governor-Reserve Bank of India emphasized that economic growth must be inclusive, and technology plays a crucial role in achieving this. He cited India’s UPI (Unified Payments Interface) system as a prime example, noting how it has revolutionized the financial landscape by providing a seamless, widely accepted platform for money transfer. UPI’s success demonstrates the power of innovation in driving widespread, inclusive change.

Vishwanathan stressed that efficiency, continuous innovation, and steady growth are essential ingredients for any startup’s success. He also highlighted the potential for innovation in areas like weather forecasting and soil management, where there is significant room for advancement. Furthermore, he underscored the importance of building sustainable organizations, ensuring that innovative ideas not only take root but thrive for long-term success.

Prof. Hardeep Kaur, Principal of Miranda House, University of Delhi, discussed the significance of the BRICS Youth Entrepreneurship Summit and the role of startups within this framework. Highlighting Bengaluru as a hub of innovation, she emphasized that technology is deeply integrated into every aspect of society and drives progress across sectors. Prof. Kaur underlined the importance of BRICS economic collaboration and noted that, within this platform, there is not only knowledge sharing but also active technological collaboration.

She pointed out that BRICS countries account for a disproportionate share of global carbon emissions, contributing 42% of total emissions. This makes them key players in global climate change dynamics. Brazil, India, China, and Russia, as industrialized, commercialized, and globalized nations, rank among the top seven carbon-emitting countries worldwide. Prof. Kaur stressed the intricate balance between economic growth, energy consumption, and environmental sustainability within BRICS nations, which presents challenges in achieving global climate goals.

She encouraged the transition to greener energy sources and the development of global responses to climate change. In this context, she highlighted how these environmental challenges can be transformed into innovative startup opportunities, driving new solutions for sustainable energy and environmental stewardship.

During the event, the Exhibition of Startup Showcase was also inaugurated by the Chief Guest and Senior Dignitaries. Additionally, Start-Up Showcases allowed young entrepreneurs to present their innovative ideas to investors and industry experts, gaining mentorship and funding opportunities.

Initially, welcome remarks were delivered by Prof. B Gurumoorthy, Director, FSID, IISc, Bengaluru.

The event featured Panel Discussions & Expert Keynotes, where government officials, industry leaders, and successful entrepreneurs discussed startup ecosystems, investment opportunities, and policy frameworks driving entrepreneurship. A Panel Discussion on the challenges and opportunities in youth entrepreneurship featured prominent industry leaders, followed by a Masterclass on ‘Creating Sustainable Business Models & Opportunities for Youth in Deep Tech’ by Naganand Doraswamy, Founder, Ideaspring Capital.

A major highlight of the event was the Idea-Based Competition, where aspiring entrepreneurs pitched their business ideas and social impact solutions to a distinguished jury comprising leading professionals from diverse industries. Furthermore, the event provided Networking & Collaboration opportunities, enabling young entrepreneurs to connect with mentors, experts, and policymakers.

The BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Pre-Consultation was part of a national initiative to position youth-led entrepreneurship as a catalyst for economic and social transformation in India. By encouraging innovation and job creation, the event reinforced India’s vision of emerging as a global leader in deep technology and entrepreneurship.