Partnership was the future of leadership, and India must move from an obsession with competition to an obsession with collaboration, said Kamal Bali, president and managing director, Volvo Group India.
“To become a product-first nation, India must increase R&D investment, accelerate productisation and commercialisation, and scale AI-driven solutions across supply chains and clean-energy systems,’‘ said Mr. Bali, who is also Chairman, CII India INNOVERGE 2025, a two-day innovation conclave that concluded here on Saturday.
That transition would only succeed when collaboration was built on transparency and trust between industry, academia and government so ideas convert into real impact, he elaborated, he said.
In his special address at the event, S. Selvakumar, Principal Secretary, Department of Commerce & Industries, said, Karnataka continued to anchor the nation’s innovation landscape through progressive policies, strategic investments in technology infrastructure, and a robust academic ecosystem.
“With over 400 R&D centres, AI and Data Sciences initiatives, and Industry 4.0 programs for SMEs, we are fostering homegrown solutions and extending innovation beyond Bengaluru to Hubballi, Mysuru, Mangaluru, and Belagavi through strong public-private partnerships,” Mr. Selvakumar said.
Speaking at the event, Manoj Kumar Meena, Secretary, Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, said the State was building a future-ready skill ecosystem through the Karnataka Skill Policy 2025–2032, seamlessly connecting education, skilling, and employment.
Reemphasising collaboration, Guruprasad Mudlapur, vice-chairman, CII Karnataka State Council, 2025–26, president, Bosch Group in India, and managing director, Bosch Ltd, said India’s transition to a product-led economy depends on the strength of its R&D investment, industrial digitisation, and skilling ecosystem. “Karnataka’s competitive edge is collaborative execution when government, industry, and academia align on skilling, digitisation and cluster investments, we create scalable and sustainable manufacturing,’‘ he said.
Published – October 12, 2025 12:14 am IST
