“The real heroes are the entrepreneurs, as they not only create value for themselves but also generate employment and contribute to the nation’s growth,” said Shri K Rajaraman, Chairman, IFSCA, during his visit to IIT Gandhinagar on August 26, 2025.
IIT Gandhinagar (IITGN) hosted a high-level delegation from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), to explore collaborations in fintech training, research, and innovation. The interaction brought together policymakers, researchers, faculty, and startups to discuss opportunities for advancing financial technologies in India.
The programme began with a tour of the IITGN Research Park, where the delegation engaged with faculty members, research groups, and startups working on emerging technologies. Innovations such as Rehab gloves – Galanto innovation, Trado, and SPEC Finance were showcased, alongside startups like Kapidhwaj, Procyl therapeutics and a nutritious food venture – Plantro pvt ltd.
Shri Rajaraman also discussed venture capital, funding, patents, and stressed the importance of building stronger networks. “Customers should be brought here, as they are the true builders of the ecosystem, their needs and feedback shape innovation and drive meaningful growth,” he opined. Delivering the welcome address, Prof Rajat Moona, Director, IITGN, highlighted the Institute’s vision to contribute meaningfully to the evolving financial ecosystem through research and entrepreneurial initiatives. “Our Research Park is among the most successful ones, and we regularly engage with MSMEs through workshops and collaborative programs. Motivated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s call to scale up research and innovation, we are actively fostering collaborations and entrepreneurial ventures that address real-world challenges,” he said.“The institute also offers dedicated labs to support innovation and entrepreneurship. Our alumni success stories demonstrate IITGN’s growing impact on research, industry, and society. Research at IITGN is not just about knowledge creation, but also about empowering enabling structures with a clear agenda to create unique startups that can drive meaningful change,” he added.Shri K Rajaraman spoke about the growing role of GIFT City as a global financial hub and the importance of academia–industry partnerships. He noted that innovation drives diversity, and diversity helps build strong networks. Faculty entrepreneurship at IITGN is inspiring, he said, and cross-disciplinary startups create a multiplier effect that generates social impact. He also suggested ways to support SMEs and addressed challenges related to finance access and regulatory frameworks.The event featured thematic talks by Prof K Chelvakumar, Executive Vice President, GIFT ifi on “FinTech Training and Research” and Mr Anand Pandey, Deputy Manager, IITGN Research Park on promoting techno-entrepreneurship. A faculty showcase session highlighted ongoing research, while startups SPEC Finance and Trado demonstrated innovations in financial technology.The IFSCA delegation also presented a regulatory overview of GIFT IFSC, outlining opportunities for collaboration. The event concluded with an open discussion on training, fintech innovation, and future partnerships. Prof. Moona noted, “Engagements such as these strengthen the bridge between academia, industry, and policymakers, and open up opportunities for impactful collaboration in the rapidly growing fintech sector.”