Kanpur: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday emphasized the importance of stronger collaboration between industry and academia to position India as a global hub for technology and sustainable development.

Speaking at IIT Kanpur during the Samanvay industry-academia engagement program, the CM highlighted the conference’s focus on Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, and Sustainability, stressing that such collaborations would drive innovation while improving citizens’ quality of life. “Industry-academia collaboration today is linked to solving global challenges and building a Viksit and Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.

Tracing India’s economic trajectory, Adityanath noted that India’s contribution to global GDP fell from 25% in the 17th century to 2% in 1947, but recent reforms have propelled India to the fourth-largest economy globally, with potential to reach third place within two years. He praised IIT Kanpur’s six-decade contribution to technology and urged the institute to lead India’s first Deep-Tech India 2025 initiative, for which land has already been allotted.

He also requested IIT Kanpur’s support in enhancing cyber security in Uttar Pradesh, where cyber police stations now operate in all 75 districts alongside a State Cyber and Forensic Institute.

Highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s transformation, the CM said the state has shed its “BIMARU” image to become the country’s second-largest economy through improved law and order, investment inflows, and infrastructure development. He cited Bundelkhand as an example, noting universal tap water access and a tenfold increase in farm incomes, as well as the plantation of 240 crore saplings over eight years, confirmed by the Forest Research Institute to have increased forest cover.

Adityanath urged industries to prioritize reinvestment in innovation rather than focusing solely on profits, recalling IIT Kanpur’s contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Defence Corridor, and the Med-Tech Centre. He stressed that coordinated efforts between industry and academia would restore India’s global leadership.

Notable attendees included Cabinet Minister Rakesh Sachan, IIT Kanpur Director Prof. Manindra Agarwal, TCS CTO Dr. Harry Queen, and Deputy Director Prof. Brajbhushan.

India’s first National DeepTech Conference, DeepTech Bharat 2025, was launched at IIT Kanpur with participation from DRDO, ISRO, MeitY, and over 200 venture capital firms.

The conference highlighted cutting-edge sectors such as AI, Semiconductors, Quantum Technology, Space Tech, and Biosciences, unveiling DeepTech Policy 2035, India’s first deep-tech accelerator, and the country’s first AI co-pilot. The initiative aims to make Uttar Pradesh India’s first deep-tech-ready state, support startups, and provide opportunities to youth from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, while contributing to a $1 trillion economy.