- Industry titans, policy drivers & young innovators converge at Ahmedabad’s infrastructure-focused campus
- From AI & digital transformation to manufacturing excellence — ideas turn actionable
- ‘Pitch Your Idea’ powers student innovation with mentorship & market-ready exposure
NE EDUCATION BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, MAR 6
For two days, the campus of Institute of Infrastructure, Technology, Research and Management transformed into a live laboratory of ambition as UDGAM 2026 — its flagship Industry–Academia Conclave — stitched together conversations that moved beyond theory and into execution.
Organised by the Career Development Centre (CDC) with support from the Industrial Extension Bureau (INDEXTb) and Gujarat Informatics Limited (GIL), UDGAM 2026 reinforced IITRAM’s industry-oriented academic model, positioning Ahmedabad as a rising hub for infrastructure-led innovation dialogue.
Student teams present bold, solution-driven concepts during the ‘Pitch Your Idea’ segment at IITRAM’s Industry–Academia Conclave UDGAM 2026. – NE photo
A High-Impact Convergence
The conclave saw active participation from leading corporates including IBM, Tata Consultancy Services, eInfochips, Deepak Group, Wonder Cement and Kalpataru Projects International Limited.
Keynote sessions and panel discussions navigated themes such as digital transformation, infrastructure growth, advanced manufacturing, ESG-aligned engineering, and the urgent need for future-ready talent.
A senior organiser from IITRAM’s Career Development Centre remarked: “UDGAM is not just an event; it is a bridge. We designed this conclave to ensure that our students understand how classroom concepts translate into industry execution. The goal is alignment — between curriculum, corporate expectations and national infrastructure priorities.”
An INDEXTb (Industrial Extension Bureau) representative added: “Gujarat’s growth story has always been industry-driven. Platforms like UDGAM accelerate that synergy by connecting policy support, academic innovation and corporate investment in talent.”
‘Pitch Your Idea’: Youth at the Helm
The electric centrepiece of UDGAM 2026 was “Pitch Your Idea,” where student teams presented solution-oriented concepts before an expert industry jury.
Students from nearly 10 institutes across Ahmedabad participated, pitching innovations spanning smart infrastructure, AI-enabled systems, sustainability models and digital efficiency tools.
An organising committee member noted: “What stood out was the confidence and clarity of the students. The jury wasn’t just evaluating presentations — they were identifying potential collaborations. Winning teams received rewards, but more importantly, mentorship and industry access.”
Beyond Dialogue — Toward Deployment
UDGAM 2026 underscored IITRAM’s distinctive positioning as an institute focused on infrastructure, technology and applied research — aligning academic learning with the demands of India’s expanding transport, utility and digital ecosystems.
By bringing together academia, government facilitators and corporate leaders on one platform, the conclave moved beyond symbolic networking. It seeded conversations on internships, live projects, skill mapping and co-developed research — ensuring impact that extends beyond the auditorium.
As the curtains came down, UDGAM 2026 left behind more than applause. It delivered a blueprint for sustained industry–academia integration — a model increasingly critical in shaping India’s innovation economy.
