Interview with Shridhar Shukla

IIT Bombay Alumni Association (IITBAA), Pune Chapter are organizing a innovative event titled Innovations2007 in Pune on 7th Jan 2007. Further details are at http://www.iitmumbai.org/innovations2007.

We interviewed Dr Shridhar Shukla, President, IITBAA, Pune Chapter to learn more about the event.

Q : Please give us a background on Innovations 2007 and how was the idea conceived to organize such a unique event?

Shridhar Shukla :Input from many people from AA and TiE. Uniqueness - single day, rapid fire format of presentations, all sectors, focus on ideas in practice, use of technology, high impact keynote.

Q : Are you happy with the quality and quantity of the nominees ?
Shridhar Shukla : Yes. 100+ nominees, 31 from outside Mumbai/Pune, 45 advanced to stage II, 16 selected. Nominees included seven companies with $10M+ revenue. Of 16, 5 manufacturing, 4 IT/Comm, 4 Process/Biotech/Chem, 3 Mass impact

3 from outside Mumbai Pune area

Focus on uniquness, clarity of problem solved, use of technology, scope of impact, and extent of deployment.

Q : What are the various innovation trends you observed from the nominees ?
Shridhar Shukla : Lower cost of a solution, unique to Indian population, bold, mass impact

Q : What is the criteria you are adopting to shortlist the 15 candidates ?
Shridhar Shukla :Answered in the 2nd Q above.

Q : What kind of further support do you aim to provide to innovators who were short-listed as well as those who could not make it ?
Shridhar Shukla : Produce a media CD, but innovators are expected to take it further with the attendee list and contacts made.

Q : What are the other activities you promote at the Pune chapter of IIT Bombay Alumni Association ?

Shridhar Shukla :Tech and business lectures, social event, and tech show, once a quarter event of this type Let me know if you need any help with registrations.