CII to Host 21st Edition of India Innovation Summit in Bengaluru

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will host the 21st edition of its flagship India Innovation Summit, Innoverge 2025, on October 10-11, 2025, at The Taj West End in Bengaluru. The summit, themed "Make in India, Developed India & Digital India," will focus on artificial intelligence and digital transformation as critical drivers of India's growth and global competitiveness.

The event is being led by a committee of industry veterans, with Kris Gopalakrishnan, Past President of CII and Co-Founder of Infosys Ltd, serving as summit mentor. Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director of Volvo Group India Pvt Ltd, chairs the initiative.

According to Gopalakrishnan, India's future competitiveness depends on strengthening its research and development ecosystem through increased investment, improved infrastructure, and closer collaboration between academia and industry. He highlighted gaps in R&D spending as a percentage of GDP and the number of researchers compared to global benchmarks, while emphasizing the need for prioritized investment in emerging technologies like AI, biotechnology, and renewable energy.

Bali noted that artificial intelligence is emerging as a transformative force across India's growing sectors, automating processes, improving quality, and optimizing supply chains. He stated that key industries including aerospace, defense, automotive, and healthcare technology are positioned to benefit significantly from AI adoption.

The two-day summit will feature an Innovation Showcase and Tech Walkthroughs, offering insights into cutting-edge technologies and breakthrough ideas. The event will also present Innoverge Recognitions 2025, honouring India's innovation champions. A special session on "Innovation & Strategy in Warfare" by the Indian Army in Operation Sindoor will address innovation from a national security perspective.

Focus areas during the summit will include energy and mobility, entrepreneurship and startups, and manufacturing and logistics. Industry representatives highlighted AI's role in driving sustainable development through the convergence of mobility, energy transition, and digital transformation, as well as its potential to make innovation more accessible for entrepreneurs and support global competitiveness in manufacturing.

The summit is supported by leading companies including Volvo Group, Infosys Ltd, Bosch India, 3M India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, and others. The event aims to align industry, policy, and academia toward realizing India's vision of becoming a developed and digitally advanced nation.