Birla Global University Hosts International Conference on Grassroots & Frugal Innovation in Emerging Economies (GFI 2026)
• BGU, Nepal’s Mid-West University Sign MoU for Academic Collaboration
• Experts Deliberate on Frugal Innovation & Climate-Smart Agro-economies
• Idea2Impact Bootcamp and Innovation Showcasing Encourage Startup & Student Participation
Bhubaneswar : Birla Global University (BGU) hosts the International Conference on “Grassroots & Frugal Innovation in Emerging Economies (GFI 2026)” from 12–14 March 2026 at its Bhubaneswar campus. The three-day international conference brings together academicians, policymakers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and industry leaders from India and abroad to deliberate on how grassroots ingenuity and frugal innovations can drive inclusive and sustainable development in emerging economies.
The conference is organised by B–HIVE (Birla Hub for Innovation, Venturing and Entrepreneurship), the innovation and incubation centre of the Birla School of Management, BGU, in collaboration with the Earl V. Snyder Innovation Management Center, Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University (USA), and Mid-West University, Surkhet, Nepal.
The inaugural session commenced with the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony and featured eminent speakers including Prof. Dhruba Kumar Gautam, Vice-Chancellor of Mid-West University, Nepal, attended as the Chief Guest. Prof. Anand Kumar Jaiswal, Professor of Marketing at IIM Ahmedabad, who delivered the keynote address. Prof. S. P. Raj, Center Director, Earl V. Snyder Innovation Management Center at Syracuse University and Mr. Rajat Vardhan, Founder & CEO of ScaNxt Scientific Technologies Pvt. Ltd., addressed the gathering as Guests of Honour.
Welcoming the participants, Dr. Suvendu Kumar Pratihari, Assistant Professor – Marketing & Entrepreneurship and Conference Chair, highlighted the significance of grassroots and frugal innovation in addressing local challenges and creating scalable solutions with global relevance.
In his address, Prof. Kulbhushan Balooni, Vice-Chancellor, Birla Global University, emphasised the institution’s commitment to fostering an innovation-driven research and entrepreneurship ecosystem. He observed that Indian society has historically demonstrated strong grassroots innovation capabilities, which continue to shape developmental pathways in both local and global contexts.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Anand Kumar Jaiswal, Professor of Marketing, IIM Ahmedabad, underscored the importance of nurturing locally relevant innovations and scaling them globally, stating that frugal innovation is critical for India’s journey toward becoming a competitive global economy.
A key highlight of the inaugural session was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Birla Global University and Mid-West University, Nepal, aimed at strengthening collaboration in academic exchange, joint research, innovation, and entrepreneurship development.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Dhruba Kumar Gautam, Vice-Chancellor of Mid-West University, Nepal, emphasised the responsibility of higher education institutions to translate knowledge into practice and empower scholars to contribute meaningfully to societal transformation through innovation.
The conference featured keynote lectures, panel discussions, and parallel technical sessions focusing on themes such as scaling grassroots and frugal innovation for sustainable development, climate-smart agro-economies and building innovation ecosystems for public value.
The first panel discussion on “Scaling Grassroots and Frugal Innovation for Inclusive and Sustainable Development” was moderated by Dr. Santosh Mohanty, Director, VK-AICYAM, and included speakers such as Mr. Rajat Vardhan, Mr. Rajeev Warrier (Wadhwani Foundation), Prof. Anand Jaiswal, and Dr. Bijay Kumar Sahu (NRDC, Bhubaneswar).
The second panel discussion on “Climate-Smart Agro Economy: The Way Ahead” was chaired by Shri Jagadananda, Co-Founder of the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD), and featured experts from organisations such as WASAN and PRADAN, who shared insights on sustainable agricultural practices and rural livelihood opportunities.
The conference also featured keynote contributions from global thought leaders including Prof. Jaideep Prabhu, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge (UK), and Prof. Madhubalan Viswanathan, Loyola Marymount University (USA).
Another major highlight of GFI 2026 was the Idea2Impact Bootcamp and Innovation Showcase, which encourages entrepreneurial thinking among students and emerging startups. The Idea2Impact programme was conducted in collaboration with the Wadhwani Foundation, focusing on design thinking, problem identification, and venture development.
A total of 83 student ventures participated in the Bootcamp and Pitch Deck Challenge, and were evaluated by expert jury panels comprising academicians, incubation leaders, and industry professionals. In addition, 20 startups and two grassroots innovators showcased their innovations, presenting live prototypes and frugal technology solutions addressing real-world societal and market challenges.
This platform enables innovators to engage with investors, policymakers, academia, and industry stakeholders, thereby strengthening opportunities for scaling grassroots and technology-driven solutions.
The 2nd day of the conference on March 13 will have technical sessions and a valedictory programme featuring Shri Manas Ranjan Panda, Director, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Bhubaneswar, as Chief Guest, and Mr. Anshu Gupta, Founder of Goonj. The closing ceremony will include the presentation of the conference report, Best Paper Awards, and Idea2Impact Awards.
GFI 2026 serves as a dynamic platform for dialogue, collaboration, and action among stakeholders committed to advancing grassroots innovation and entrepreneurial solutions to address the complex challenges faced by emerging economies.
