Expressnews
CHENNAI — The FICCI Tamil Nadu State Council hosted the 3rd edition of the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Summit 2026 on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at The Hilton, Chennai. This year’s summit canters on the theme “Empowering the Future Workforce: AI, AVGC & Industry 4.0 in Academia”.
The day-long summit served as a vital bridge between industry and academia, bringing together corporate leaders and heads of educational institutions. The event featured four curated sessions, where expert panellists deliberated on the global impact of AI, the necessity of industry-academia collaborations, emerging technological disruptions, and the evolving startup ecosystem.
Distinguished Guests & Schedule
The inaugural session was attended by Chief Guest Dr. Sutapa Choudhury, British Deputy High Commissioner (Designate), British Deputy High Commission, Chennai.
The summit concluded with a Valedictory Ceremony from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM.
The valedictory ceremony attended by Chief Guest Dr. Ganesanathan Geathiswaran, Deputy High Commissioner, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, Chennai. A highlight of the evening was the Industry Collaboration Awards to 3 Institutions that have made remarkable contributions.
Leadership Presence
Prominent leaders attended and shared their insights during the valedictory session include:
· Dr. GSK Velu, Chairman, FICCI TN State Council and CMD, Trivitron Healthcare & Neuberg Diagnostics Group
· Dr. Ashok G. Verghese, Co-Chairman, FICCI TN State Council and Pro-Chancellor, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS)
· Bhupesh Nagarajan, Co-Chairman, FICCI TN State Council and CMD, Indira Group of Companies
· Dr.Ganesanathan Geathiswaran, Deputy High Commissioner, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, Chennai
Awardees & Title:
FICCI Industry Collaboration Award – Excellence in Global Aviation Training Standards presented to Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science & Orient Flights Private Limited for bringing internationally benchmarked flight simulation training to India, fostering continuous innovation and excellence in aviation Education. Award received by Mr.Abel Mathew Prasad, Vice President, Orient Flights Private Limited.
FICCI Industry Collaboration Award – Emerging Technologies and Innovation was presented to Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, for its pioneering initiatives through the Experiential Technology Innovation Centre (XITC), fostering advancements in AR, VR, and MR, and enabling impactful collaboration between academia, industry and start-ups to drive innovation and entrepreneurial growth. Award received by Prof.Prabha Mandayam, IIT Madras.
FICCI Industry Collaboration Award – Excellence in Quantum Computing and Advance Technologies presented to Indian Institute of Technology, Madras & IBM, for its strategic partnership through the IBM Quantum Network, enabling cutting-edge research, education and skill development in quantum computing, and fostering innovation in the next generation computational technologies. Award received by Dr.Dhinakaran Vinayagamurthy, Manager – Qiskit India Team, IBM quantum Member of IIT Madras.
Speeches by the Industry Leaders:
Dr.Ashok George Verghese, Co-Chairman of FICCI TN State Council & Pro Chancellor of Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science (HITS), spoke at the Summit:
“The future of higher education cannot be shaped by old models; we must become more agile and deeply connected to the rise of AI and digital technologies. Tamil Nadu stands at a unique moment of opportunity, and by leveraging our engineering talent and manufacturing base, we can truly become India’s knowledge and innovation hub. Our students need more than just degrees—they require digital skills, creativity, and an entrepreneurial mindset to graduate with global relevance. To achieve this, universities and industry must move beyond traditional hiring to partner on joint centers of excellence and reimagined curricula. Let us build campuses that foster innovation and policies that empower our youth, preparing them not just for jobs, but for leadership in this new era.”
Dr. GSK Velu, Chairman, FICCI TN State Council and CMD, Trivitron Healthcare & Neuberg Diagnostics Group, while addressing the audience, said:
“The higher education landscape is shifting so rapidly that we can no longer rely on static curricula; instead, we must embrace a world where AI, digital transformation, and robotics intersect with every single field of study. To keep pace, our teachers must commit to continuous learning, as the knowledge of a decade ago is quickly becoming irrelevant in this new age of applied science. The key to our future success lies in a powerful triangle of collaboration between the government, industry, and academia, working together to foster an ecosystem where innovation truly thrives. We must move toward multi-disciplinary education, where medical and engineering disciplines coexist, allowing us to apply data analytics and machine learning to solve complex real-world problems. As we look forward, let us ensure our educational institutions remain the backbone of leadership, empowering India to build the world’s largest organizations through constant interaction and innovative ideas.”
Dr.Ganesanathan Geathiswaran, Deputy High Commissioner, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, Chennai on his remarks at the Summit:
“Vanakkam, it is a great pleasure to join this valedictory session and congratulate FICCI for focusing on such a relevant theme as AI and Industry 4.0. As the world evolves from brick-sized phones to advanced wearable tech, our institutions must transform into centers of innovation that equip students with the creativity and technological competence needed for the future. India has truly become the “engine” of global technology, and I am particularly honored to witness the immense talent and startup culture here in Tamil Nadu, which is the fastest-growing state in the country. There is immense potential for us to deepen the bond between India and Sri Lanka through collaborative research, student exchange programs, and the sharing of technology between our universities. I warmly invite you all to reach out to the Deputy High Commission in Nungambakkam so we can work together to empower our youth and build a future-ready workforce through meaningful regional cooperation.”
The summit concluded with a participation of over 300 people which includes industry leaders, scientific experts, entrepreneurs, teaching faculty and students.
