PU Celebrates National Entrepreneurship Day

Chandigarh, November 9, 2024: The Institutions Innovation Council (IIC) of Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh, in association with various university departments, including SAIF/CIL, Environmental Studies, Geology, and the Central Placement Cell, celebrated National Entrepreneurship Day, today.

Director (Technology) of the Indian Semiconductor Mission, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, Dr. Manish Kumar Hooda was the Chief Guest.

The event was held to inspire students, researchers and faculty members to embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to innovation and success. The event featured a series of motivational talks by successful entrepreneurs and experts from various sectors.

In his address, Dr. Manish Kumar Hooda spoke about the critical role of innovative ideas in shaping his entrepreneurial journey. He emphasised that the most important is ideation as the success of any start-up venture is based on the originality of the idea of a budding entrepreneur. He stressed the need for creativity and strategic thinking to turn ideas into reality. He spoke about his latest project of Semicon India and his conviction to produce semiconductor chips in India.

PU Registrar Prof. Y. P. Verma, in his inaugural address, highlighted the importance of the "Three P’s" – Passion, Perseverance and Patience, as the key qualities for the success of any entrepreneurial venture. He encouraged the audience to adopt these principles for long-term success.

Global Senior Director at Jaguar Land Rover, North America, Dr. Amandeep S. Bhullar shared 10 essential points that aspiring entrepreneurs should keep in mind when starting a business or a startup.

Founder of Vardhman Chemtech and Chief Strategist at Kinvan Pvt. Ltd. Mr. Suyog Jain shared his entrepreneurial journey, detailing the challenges he faced and how he overcame them to successfully execute high-profile projects, including one recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 
Gautam Madhok, Managing Director of Higgs Healthcare Ltd., narrated his experience of manufacturing the Form Fill Seal (FFS) machine in India. He shared how he was able to reduce the cost of manufacturing to one-tenth of that of the German suppliers and, eventually, became the largest exporter of FFS machines in India.

Deepak Bagai, owner of the Asiatic Centre of Gemological Services, spoke about the fascinating world of gemstones and the opportunities in the field of gemology, urging students to explore careers in this unique industry. 

Prof. Narinder Singh, of the Department of Chemistry, IIT, Ropar spoke on the crucial skills required for successful lab-to-industry research transitions, urging students and researchers to develop skills that make them industry-ready.

Earlier, the proceedings began with welcome remarks and an introduction to the theme of the event by Prof Ganga Ram Chaudhary, President of the IIC. He emphasised the importance of entrepreneurship in today’s rapidly evolving world.

The event was attended by over 100 participants, including students, faculty and professionals from industries, all of whom found the lectures motivating and inspiring.

The speakers’ experiences and insights provided valuable knowledge on the path to becoming a successful entrepreneur, offering guidance on overcoming obstacles, fostering innovation, and scaling businesses.

The National Entrepreneurship Day celebration successfully provided a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to connect with industry leaders, gain valuable insights, and be motivated to embark on their own entrepreneurial journeys. IIC, through this meaningful celebration of the “National Entrepreneurship day’ under the dynamic leadership of Prof. Ganga Ram Choudhary jointly convened by Prof. Gurmeet Kaur (Covenor IIC), Dr. Rajeev Kumar, Chairperson (Environment Studies), Dr Mahesh Thakur (Geology), Dr Bunty Sharma (SAIF/CII). In addition to students, the event witnessed the vibrant presence of many faculty members, researchers and staff members.