Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed young innovators at the Grand Finale of ‘Smart India Hackathon 2024 – Hardware Edition’ held at Galgotias University, Greater Noida, on December 11.
In his keynote speech, he praised the initiative by the Government of India for fostering innovation and collaboration, providing a vibrant platform for the country’s brightest minds to create and present solutions to real-world challenges.
He described the Hackathon as an effective way to link educational institutions with industries. Over the next four days, participants will tackle important problem statements to develop innovative solutions.
The Lieutenant Governor noted the significant changes in India’s innovation landscape over the past decade, crediting this progress to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership.
He highlighted India’s position as a global leader in new inventions crucial for societal well-being and economic advancement.
He urged the youth to turn their innovative ideas into practical and commercially successful applications, ensuring that the benefits of these innovations are accessible to everyone.
“Your courage and dedication to exploring the unknown will energize India’s journey towards development,” he said.
He stressed that to become a developed nation by 2047, India requires cutting-edge technologies and sustainable, environment-friendly innovations.
The Lieutenant Governor called for the collaboration of innovators, support for fresh ideas, and the commercialization of new discoveries.
He highlighted the importance of innovations in areas that benefit society, such as water conservation, waste management, precision agriculture, and e-governance.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the goal of innovation should be inclusive development and economic growth.
He remarked that technologies like Augmented Reality (AR) in Industry 4.0 should improve design, product development, maintenance, and quality control across various sectors, aiding manufacturers in addressing operational challenges.
He also noted that the integration of systems and smart factories will be vital in Industry 4.0, showcasing the collaboration between human effort and technology.
To tackle societal challenges related to food, water, energy, and the environment, intelligent and integrated devices are essential.
He elaborated that key components of Industry 4.0, such as the Internet of Things, Big Data, Cloud Computing, and Artificial Intelligence, will profoundly influence traditional fields like space, atomic energy, and defense.
Highlighting the need for stronger partnerships among academia, industry, and policymakers, the Lieutenant Governor encouraged educators to promote a “Problem First” approach and foster an entrepreneurial spirit within university campuses.
He also stressed the importance of educational institutions in transforming India into a knowledge economy, advocating for the effective implementation of the National Education Policy 2020.
In response to the Lieutenant Governor’s request, the Chancellor of Galgotias University announced a 50 percent scholarship for students from Jammu and Kashmir.
The event was attended by various dignitaries, including Ashok Bajpai, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Suneel Galgotia, Chancellor of Galgotias University; and Dr. K. Mallikharjuna Babu, Vice Chancellor, along with faculty members, students, and young innovators from regions across the country.
