- Three-day event unites 850+ scholars to decode people–organisation–policy dynamics shaping tomorrow’s economy
- 12 research tracks explore India’s rise in AI, supply chains, sustainability, digital transformation and policy innovation
- Keynotes stress design-thinking, last-mile solutions and bridging gaps between innovation and implementation
- Directors of seven IIMs deliberate on the future of management education in the AI era
- IMRC 2025 emerges as India’s leading platform for next-generation management thinkers and research collaboration
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, DEC 7
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad has inaugurated the second edition of the India Management Research Conference (IMRC 2025), a global knowledge forum designed to shape the future of India-centric management research. Held from December 5–7, the conference revolves around the ambitious theme “The Future of the Economy: People, Organisations, and Policy,” drawing researchers, scholars and academics from around the world.
More than 850 participants—including leading scholars, early-career researchers, doctoral students, and practitioners—are attending the three-day event, featuring 12 thematic research tracks, 479 research-paper presentations, nine conference-wide events and contributions from 30 countries.
India Needs High-Quality Research to Power Its Growth: IIMA Director
In his inaugural address, Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director, IIMA, highlighted India’s rapid rise in global research output.
He said, “As the country aspires to be a global economy and a developed nation, we need to innovate solutions to our challenges at the leading edge of work, which also largely depends on research output in the country… India now ranks third globally in published research output… To realise the dream of Viksit Bharat, we need quality research in all domains so that India can move up the value chain.”
He further noted the government’s push to strengthen India’s research ecosystem.
“The government has launched the Research, Development, and Innovation Fund worth Rs. 1.4 lakh crores… Rs. 40,000 crores will be channelled through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation… This will greatly boost research across domains,” he said, adding that IMRC plays a key role in fostering collaboration across disciplines to support India’s economic ambitions.
IMRC Vision: A Platform Born to Strengthen India’s Growth Story
Conference Convener Professor Debjit Roy welcomed participants and highlighted the conference philosophy.
He said, “IMRC… born out of the vision to contribute meaningfully to India’s growth story through management education and capacity building, has become a highly sought-after annual event. The future of the economy and people, organisations, and policies are all interlinked and must be thought together.”
He also explained the rapid evolution from digitisation to people-centric automation and AI, noting how shrinking time gaps between industrial revolutions demand more agile research.
Keynotes Decode Public Health, Design Inquiry and the Future of Problem-Solving
Two keynote sessions opened Day 2.
In his talk titled “Lessons from the Last Mile: People, Organisations, and Policy in Public Health Supply Chains,” Professor Anant Mishra shared insights from Senegal and Tanzania.
He said, “Our focus on critical areas like AI and semiconductor investments showcases how countries can emerge as key players… however, we must confront persistent issues such as essential medicine stockouts… Only through effective public-private partnerships can we ensure healthcare reaches every individual.”
In her keynote “Science for What Comes Next: Design as a Mode of Inquiry,” Professor Leona Chandra Kruse spoke about human-centred design.
“As we innovate, we must see design as a search process… solutions must prioritise human needs—offering support, pleasure and security… we need to design better futures,” she said.
12 Tracks Explore India’s Emerging Priorities
The conference features 12 research tracks hosted across IIMA’s Centres of Research Excellence, covering:
• Indian startup ecosystem
• Health management
• Gold & precious metals policy
• Financial markets & economy
• Behavioural science
• Transportation & logistics
• Digital transformation
• Sustainability & corporate governance
• Leadership in changing work environments
• Data science & AI
• Low-emission development strategies
• India Marketing Conference
Directors of Seven IIMs Discuss AI-Era Management Education
A major Day-2 highlight was the Director’s Panel featuring leadership from seven IIMs, moderated by Professor Lakshmi Goyal. They discussed how AI is reshaping management education and redefining learning models, talent needs, and future-ready competencies.
A Vibrant Platform for Collaboration
The conference also featured:
• A Networking Forum with over 250 PhD scholars and nine top institutions
• A session by Google for Education on “AI in Research” by Isha Porwal
• Workshops, paper presentations and domain-specific discussions across the first two days
With its insights, scale, and global participation, IMRC 2025 strengthens IIMA’s position as a hub for transformative management research and a catalyst for India’s economic future.
