Expressnews
Chennai, September 27, 2025: The groundbreaking national youth summit, “Xplore AI & Innothon 2025,” successfully concluded today at KCG College of Technology with a grand valedictory function, cementing its status as a significant milestone in fostering India’s next generation of deep-tech and ethical AI talent. The two-day event brought together hundreds of students, academics, and industry leaders for a dynamic convergence of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Led by the college’s academic leadership, including Dr. M Krishnamurthy, Head of the Department of Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, and Dr. S. Revathy, Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the summit featured a rigorous 24-hour hackathon, a project expo, and inspiring presentations from industry partners Tamilpreneur, Marabanu, and Zha VC.
A key highlight was the insightful panel discussion on the future of AI, expertly moderated by Mr. Gowri Shankar Sivabala, Founder of the Dubai AI Community and SpaceNXT Labs. The discussion featured a distinguished panel including Dr. M Krishnamurthy, Head of AI&DS at KCG College of Technology; Mr. Praveen Parthasarathy, Co-Founder of Aasha-AI; Mr. R Raj Arun, AVP & Lead Architect at Fractal Analytics; Dr. RajKumar, Associate Professor at SRM IST; Mr. Dinesh Durai, Chief Digital Officer of Ideassion Group; Mr. Ajay Sampath Kumar, Operations Head at Tamilpreneur; and Ms. Ernestine, an AI & Quantum Researcher and student. The panelists engaged in a vibrant discourse on developing responsible AI, bridging the academia-industry gap, and the future of AI-driven careers in India.
Reflecting on the successful conclusion of the event, Dr. Anand Jacob Verghese, Chairman of the Hindustan Group of Institutions, stated, “The incredible talent and innovative spirit we’ve witnessed over the past two days are truly inspiring. ‘Xplore AI & Innothon 2025’ has successfully created the vibrant platform we envisioned for young minds to connect with industry leaders and innovate responsibly. We are immensely proud to have facilitated this convergence of future leaders and are confident they will go on to shape India’s technological landscape.”
The summit’s valedictory function was graced by the Chief Guest, Mr. Rajeswaran V, Senior Director and Head of Futures and AI CoE at Capgemini. Sharing his valuable industry perspective, he noted, “The gap between academic knowledge and industry application is the biggest challenge we face today. Events like this are the perfect bridge. I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the projects and the practical, solution-oriented mindset of the participants. The talent on display here is world-class, and it reinforces our belief in the immense potential of India’s youth to lead the next wave of AI innovation.”
Mr. S. Aravind Ramesh, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Shollinganallur, who attended as the Special Guest, remarked, “It is a matter of immense pride to witness such a forward-thinking event being hosted here in our Shollinganallur constituency, the heart of Chennai’s IT corridor. KCG College of Technology continues to be a beacon of educational excellence in our community. Seeing our young students develop solutions in cutting-edge fields like AI assures me that the future of our constituency and our nation is in very capable hands.”
The seamless organisation of the event was lauded by Dr. Annie Jacob, Director of KCG College of Technology, who commented, “This summit is the culmination of months of dedicated effort from our faculty, staff, alumni and student volunteers. Our goal was to create an ecosystem of learning, collaboration, and opportunity. Seeing the energy in every session, the mentorship from industry experts, and the sheer enthusiasm of the students has been incredibly rewarding. My heartfelt thanks to all our partners and participants for making this a resounding success.”
The ceremony concluded with the felicitation of the hackathon and project expo winners, celebrating the most innovative solutions developed during the event. Dr. M Muthukannan, Principal of KCG College of Technology, expressed his pride in the participants, saying, “Beyond the competition, this event was about building confidence and fostering a culture of innovation. Our students have not only showcased their technical prowess but also their ability to work collaboratively under pressure to solve real-world problems. We are immensely proud of every single participant and especially congratulate the winners on their outstanding achievements.”
