IIT Mandi iHub and HCI Foundation, successfully hosted the second edition of its flagship conclave, HIVE 2.0 starting on 31st January 2025 at IIT Mandi. Focused on promoting and encouraging translational research by driving industry-academia collaborations, the event brought together over 100 startups from across India, with 15 selected to showcase cutting-edge device-led solutions aligned with the conclave’s themes. Gokul Butail, Principal Advisor (IT) to the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, announced the results of the startup pitch competition and presented the awards. Rajesh Dharmani, Minister of Town & Country Planning, Housing, Technical Education, Vocational and Industrial Training, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh, graced the event with his esteemed presence.
Other distinguished guests included:
- Smt. Rakhil Kahlon, IAS, Secretary, Department of Digital Technologies and Governance, Himachal Pradesh
- Dr. Balvinder Singh, Founder, BluOxyGen.AI, and Former Vice President, Samsung R&D Institute – Bangalore
- Prof. Dr. Parampreet Singh Kharbanda & Prof. Dr. Subho Chakrabarti, PGIMER, Chandigarh
- Mr. Madhu Kandasamy, Senior Director, Qualcomm India Private Limited
- Air Vice Marshal PKH Sinha VSM (Retd.), Strategic Advisor, IIT Mandi
- Prof. Subhajit Roy Chaudhury, Project Director, IIT Mandi iHub and HCi Foundation
HIVE 2.0 also marked the inauguration of a new Skill Development Hub at IIT Mandi by Shri Rajesh Dharmani, aimed at building a future-ready workforce.
Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi, and Mr. Somjit Amrit, Chief Executive Officer, IIT Mandi iHub and HCi Foundation hosted the event.
The event provided a dynamic platform to foster collaboration, align research with industry needs, and explore emerging innovations in Human-Computer Interaction (HCi). The conclave covered key thematic areas, including:
- Assistive Technologies
- Device-Led Technologies
- Experience Technologies
- Generative AI-Led Design Technologies
Key organisations, including ISRO, PGI Chandigarh, Samsung, and Qualcomm, engaged in knowledge-sharing sessions, reinforcing the conclave’s objective of fostering collaborative translational research. with industry and academia and a robust technology landscape in India.
Industry-Academia Dialogues & Key Discussions
A major highlight of HIVE 2.0 was the Research-Industry Dialogues, where thought leaders discussed translational research and strategies to bridge the “Valley of Death” in Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). The discussions emphasised:
- The gap between early-stage research (TRL 1-3) and commercialization (TRL 7-9).
- The importance of proof-of-concept development aligned with industry expectations.
- Intellectual property concerns in collaborative research.
Key Sessions & Panels:
- Generative AI on Edge
- Humanoid Robotics & Technology Relevance to Personalised Profession like Lawyer
- Technology Transfer & Research Usability in Design
- ISRO’s Sponsored Research Opportunities
Speaking about the success of HIVE 2.0, Somjit Amrit, CEO, IIT Mandi iHub and HCi Foundation, said, “HIVE 2.0 has expanded significantly, uniting national and international stakeholders to push the boundaries of human-computer interaction in assistive technology, experience technology, device-led solutions, and generative AI. The strong participation from global leaders such as Samsung and Qualcomm, alongside key government enterprises like ISRO, validates our efforts and underscores the growing impact of innovation in this space.”
