The Impressive TimesGautam Buddha University successfully hosted the 2nd Round Table Discussion on “Bridging Innovation and Skill Gaps” on 15th July 2025. The event was chaired by Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, Former Chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC), and presided over by Prof. Rana Pratap Singh, Vice Chancellor of Gautam Buddha University. The program was smoothly navigated by Dr. Sakti Sahi.
More than 34 industry experts, government officials, and academicians participated in the discussion and more than 100 faculty members were present in this significant event. The discussion was structured around three core perspectives — Government, Academia, and Industry — to ensure a well-rounded dialogue on current challenges and opportunities.
In his keynote address, Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar emphasized the importance of mutual trust among policymakers, academic institutions, and industry leaders to drive sustainable innovation and development. He stated, “For any innovation ecosystem to thrive, there must be trust, communication and cooperation between all three pillars.”
Prof. Rana Pratap Singh, Vice Chancellor of GBU, remarked, “In today’s competitive world, the institutions that succeed will be those that build bridges between education, industry, and governance. This Round Table is not just a platform for discussion, but a step towards policy-oriented, actionable outcomes. Gautam Buddha University remains committed to fostering skill development through such engagements.”
Dr. Vipin Kumar from the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) highlighted the need for a clear roadmap to achieve technological breakthroughs. Dr. S.C. Pandey from the Ministry of Education and Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, BIRAC, DBT(GoI) stressed the importance of awareness about government schemes to maximize their benefits.
Dr. Harpreet Singh from ICMR advocated for a grassroots-level and eccentric approach to innovation. Prof. Sanjay Malhotra and Dr. Shivaani Kumar from Oregon Health and Science University, USA underlined the need for building the right collaborative teams to implement effective solutions.
Dr. Binay R. Panda proposed a ‘3P Solution’—People, Policy, and Process, highlighting it as a comprehensive framework for addressing complex problems holistically.
This Round Table was jointly organized by Gautam Buddha University, NIF-DST, and BIRAC-DBT, Government of India, with the aim of formulating practical strategies to bridge the innovation and skill gap and to enhance youth employability through meaningful collaboration among academia, industry, and the government.
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