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DeepTech Hackathon Ignites India's Next Wave of Semiconductor & AI Innovation

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DeepTech Hackathon Ignites India's Next Wave of Semiconductor & AI Innovation

The India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA), in a landmark collaboration with GlobalFoundries (GF) India, one of the world’s largest feature-rich semiconductor foundries, NXP Semiconductors, a global leader in secure connectivity solutions, and the Inter Institutional Inclusive Innovations Center (i4C) as Hackathon event partner, today announced the winners of the highly anticipated DeepTech Hackathon Grand Finale at the prestigious IESA Vision Summit 2026.

 

Chennai Institute of Technology’s ALL-GIRLS  team wins at DeepTech Hackathon, takes home Rs. 1,00,000

 

A Platform Built for the Next Generation of Innovators

India has earned global recognition for its deep semiconductor design talent. As the nation now accelerates toward chip manufacturing, the imperative is clear — India must expand its capabilities across the entire semiconductor value chain to build a truly self-reliant ecosystem.

 

The IESA Vision Summit 2026 concluded with the DeepTech Hackathon Grand Finale, spotlighting cutting-edge semiconductor talent and Edge AI innovation

 

The ‘DeepTech Hackathon’ was conceived as a high-impact platform to catalyse this transition — identifying, nurturing, and fast-tracking breakthrough innovations and cultivating a future-ready talent pipeline in India. Bringing together some of India’s brightest engineering minds, the hackathon challenged participants to develop cutting-edge solutions leveraging AI-enabled EDA workflows for “Edge AI based Defect Classification System for Semiconductor Images”, reinforcing India’s readiness for design-led manufacturing and deep-tech leadership.  

 

The competition drew exceptional engagement from the country’s engineering community, attracting 911 teams across 359 colleges — culminating in 532 high-quality idea submissions that underwent a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process. The Grand Finale, held at the IESA Vision Summit 2026 — the most influential gathering of India’s electronics and semiconductor leadership — brought together 10 finalist teams who had successfully navigated rigorous qualification rounds, mentorship sessions, and technical evaluations conducted in collaboration with industry experts from GlobalFoundries and NXP Semiconductors.

 

Commenting on the Mega Finale, Mr. Ashok Chandak, President, IESA and SEMI India, said, “India’s semiconductor ecosystem is at a decisive inflection point. While the India Semiconductor Mission is unlocking unprecedented investments, the true multiplier lies in talent and deep-tech innovation. This Hackathon showcases the depth of India’s semiconductor capability and the power of young engineers to solve complex challenges.”

 

“The momentum in AI and semiconductors is inseparable. As we build next-generation chips, we must also build responsible, human-centric AI systems aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of MANAV — ethical, inclusive, and globally competitive. Today’s winners are not just award recipients; they represent the new face of India’s design and technology leadership. We congratulate them and thank our partners who are nurturing this innovation ecosystem that will power India’s next wave of startups, IP creation, and global impact.” Chandak added.

 

“GF is committed to building differentiated solutions for the semiconductor industry and our customers. Our leading foundry presence in India enables us to contribute towards building a strong tech ecosystem with our industry partners and educational institutes. The hackathon at the IESA Vision summit is a perfect platform for young talent to nurture industry-ready skills while solving real world problems using semiconductor chip design, manufacturing and AI techniques. It is inspiring to see the critical thinking, curiosity and depth of technical knowledge demonstrated by the students. I look forward to welcoming this talent to the growing semiconductor ecosystem in India and GF in particular in the coming years,” said, Jitendra Chaddah (JC), Vice President and India Country Head, GlobalFoundries.

 

Hitesh Garg, Vice President and India Managing Director, NXP Semiconductors added, “The DeepTech Hackathon comes at a pivotal moment as India accelerates its semiconductor and AI ambitions. This initiative reflects the kind of industry–academia collaboration that is essential to building India’s next wave of deep‑tech and manufacturing innovation. What stands out in this challenge—bringing together defect detection, Edge AI, and real fab‑level problem‑solving—is how closely it mirrors the demands of modern intelligent manufacturing. At NXP, we are proud to support platforms that strengthen India’s semiconductor and AI capabilities, especially as the industry faces a growing need for system design engineers who can integrate hardware, software, and AI into scalable, real‑world solutions. The ingenuity and technical depth demonstrated by these young engineers reaffirm that India is not just participating in the global shift toward advanced AI‑driven systems, but is strongly positioned to lead it.”

 

The Winners

Each winning team demonstrated exceptional command of AI enabled semiconductor design principles, systems thinking, and solution viability. A distinguished panel of jury shortlisted the top three winners at the Mega Finale — with the top spot claimed by an all-girls team from Chennai Institute of Technology.

 

Winning team – Chennai Institute of Technology, honored with prize money of Rs. 1,00,000

1st Runner-Up- Ramco Institute of Technology, honored with prize money of Rs. 60,000

2nd Runner-Up- IIT Indore, honored with prize money of Rs. 40,000. 

New GTDC Research Details Distribution's Influence on AI, Cloud and Hyperscaler Sales and Adoption

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New GTDC Research Details Distribution's Influence on AI, Cloud and Hyperscaler Sales and Adoption

  • IT distributors have become digital ecosystem orchestrators that unify cloud, AI, hyperscaler, and subscription-based business models.

  • Distribution significantly accelerates vendor growth while reducing risk, allowing suppliers to scale efficiently, expand partner bases, enter new markets and mitigate financial and operational liabilities.

  • Digital platforms are creating a new GTM “operating system”. These systems offer end-to-end digital commerce and intelligence layers to manage procurement, billing, lifecycles and analytics.

 

The Global Technology Distribution Council (GTDC), the world’s largest consortium of technology distributors, has released a new research report, Distribution: The Digital Force Multiplier. Developed by CommCentric Solutions, this study examines how IT distribution has transformed and continues to evolve into a critical enabler of cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), hyperscaler and platform-driven business models across the global technology channel.

 

Suppliers and solution providers face mounting complexity, financial risk and competitive pressure in this new digital realm. This survey and interview-based report confirms that distributors are uniquely positioned to unify fragmented go-to-market motions, streamline subscription and consumption models, integrate multi-vendor solutions, and accelerate partner enablement, demand generation and data-driven decision-making. These benefits are ranked and detailed by supplier executives in this report, along with insightful narrative from distribution and industry thought leaders.

 

“Today’s distributors have advanced far beyond the critical logistics and credit services mission,” said Frank Vitagliano, CEO of GTDC. “Distribution is now a major force multiplier-helping cloud and AI and hyperscaler-focused suppliers reduce risk, scale faster, enter new markets and orchestrate increasingly complex digital ecosystems. Those services are layered on top of all the time-tested valued services that vendors have come to expect from their trusted distributor partners.”

 

Cloud, XaaS, and AI-driven solutions introduce operational, financial and technical complexity that most emerging and established suppliers simply do not have the resources to scale these offerings independently. Distribution provides these organizations with operational efficiencies, financial leverage and the global reach required to succeed in today’s highly competitive IT ecosystems.

 

Distribution’s New Key Value Propositions

Several critical trends were highlighted by the global survey of vendor executives and in-depth interviews with channel leaders across North America, EMEA and APJ. The report notes a number of those movements that are forging a stronger and more valuable future for the IT ecosystem. Some of the advantages suppliers gain by working with distributors include:

 

Partner ecosystem growth is a priority. 80% of vendor executives rank this distribution value-add as the most important contribution to their go-to-market success, with sales enablement resources cited by 57% of respondents, reflecting the growing need for education, tools and guidance to sell and support cloud and AI-driven solutions.

 

Digital platform adoption is strong, with 86% of suppliers either using at least one today or actively evaluating options to support online transactions, lifecycle management and analytics.

 

Hyperscaler relationships continue to evolve. 60% of vendors have direct relationships with these infrastructure suppliers with 40% leveraging both a direct and distributor-supported model, underscoring the growing importance of distribution as a bridge between these organizations and the broader channel ecosystem.

 

Additional survey findings highlight that distributors play a critical role in risk reduction, renewal orchestration, marketplace onboarding and AI-driven analytics – essential capabilities as technology shifts more toward subscription, consumption and outcome-based models.

 

The full report, Distribution: The Digital Force Multiplier, as well as other invaluable industry research and resources, is available at no cost on the GTDC Knowledge Hub.

 

About the GTDC

The Global Technology Distribution Council is the industry consortium representing the world’s leading tech distributors. GTDC members drive an estimated $180 billion in annual worldwide sales of products, services and solutions through diverse business channels. GTDC conferences support the development and expansion of strategic supply-chain partnerships that continually address the fast-changing marketplace needs of vendors, end customers and distributors. GTDC members include AB S.A, Arrow Electronics, CMS Distribution, Computer Gross Italia S.p.A., D&H Distributing, ELKO Group, Esprinet S.p.A., Exclusive Networks, Exertis, Infinigate, Ingram Micro, Intcomex, Logicom Public Limited, Mindware, Nexora, Redington Limited, SiS Technologies, Tarsus Distribution, TD SYNNEX, TIM AG, VSTECS Holdings Limited and Westcon-Comstor.

Salesforce Supercharges Impact: Launches Agentic AI Accelerator for Indian Nonprofits

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Salesforce Supercharges Impact: Launches Agentic AI Accelerator for Indian Nonprofits

Salesforce, the world’s #1 AI CRM*, today announced the India cohort of its global Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact, a transformative initiative designed to empower nonprofits to harness Agentforce to drive impact. Through the Accelerator program, four nonprofit organizations in India will receive grants, cutting-edge technology, and pro-bono expertise to build and customize AI agents, enabling them to improve operational efficiency and scale community impact in the AI-driven future. The initiative champions a future where humans and AI agents work together to drive impact at scale.

 

As nonprofits across India work with lean teams to serve large and often geographically dispersed communities, many are looking for new ways to scale their impact amid rising demand, talent constraints, and operational complexity. AI agents present a powerful opportunity to extend their reach by autonomously handling routine tasks like program management, volunteer management, donor communications, and tailored fundraising support. This allows teams to focus on what matters most: direct beneficiary engagement and program delivery across India’s vast and diverse landscape. The challenge lies in accessing the technology and expertise needed to make this vision a reality.

 

The Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact addresses this need by providing nonprofits with technology, grants, and pro bono expertise to build and deploy AI-powered agent solutions. Through a customized six-month program, selected organizations receive comprehensive support including one-on-one and group coaching from Salesforce experts and flexible grants of up to INR 6.8 crores, distributed across a cohort of four nonprofit organizations. Additionally, the selected nonprofits will receive free access to Salesforce technology for up to 18 months, and technical consulting from employee volunteers.

 

India Cohort Pioneering AI Solutions

The inaugural India cohort brings together four pioneering organizations developing innovative AI agent solutions to address critical social challenges:

  • Antarang Foundation is developing a Career Facilitator Agent that generates personalized career counseling sessions with specific next steps based on each student’s profile data, enabling scalable, customized career guidance.

  • Foundation For Excellence is creating a Scholarship Agent that supports review  and processing of student applications for scholarships, helping more students get access to critical funding.

  • Latika is building a Legal Navigator Agent (Asli Intelligence) that generates clear, step-by-step roadmaps for individuals to acquire disability certificates, pensions, scholarships, and tax relief—making complex legal processes accessible to all.

  • Teach for India is implementing a Teaching Assistant agent that will be trained on resources from its teacher training platform, Firki. It will serve as a personal assistant to answer queries and guide teachers to relevant courses through intuitive chats and clicks.

 

Comments on the news:

Arundhati Bhattacharya, President & CEO, Salesforce, South Asia, said, “We believe organizations closest to India’s most pressing challenges shouldn’t be furthest from the tools that multiply their impact. Nonprofits are drowning in admin work when they should be focused on transformation. AI agents represent a fundamental shift: technology that doesn’t just optimize workflows but reclaims human capacity for what matters most.

 

At Salesforce, we’ve long believed that business is the greatest platform for change.  That belief guides how we build and deploy AI as a force for good that strengthens communities. Through the Salesforce Accelerator — Agents for Impact, we’re proving a new equation: when intelligent systems handle complexity, people multiply impact. Not by working harder, but by working on what only humans can do — building trust, making judgment calls, and showing up with empathy where it counts. The future of impact isn’t choosing between humanity and scale. It’s architecting them together.”

 

*Salesforce, the #1 CRM, powered by AI technology and capabilities.

 

About Salesforce

Salesforce helps organizations of any size become agentic enterprises – integrating humans, agents, apps, and data on a trusted, unified platform to unlock unprecedented growth and innovation.

 

Visit www.salesforce.com/in for more information.

Powering India's Semiconductor Rise: IESA Technovation Awards 2026

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Powering India's Semiconductor Rise: IESA Technovation Awards 2026

The IESA Technovation Awards, the most prestigious recognition in India’s Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) and semiconductor industry, once again took centre stage at the IESA Vision Summit 2026 at The Leela Bhartiya City Convention Centre, Bengaluru on 25th – 26th February, 2026. Bringing together the brightest minds from industry, government, Start Up’s and academia, the two-day summit — themed “Design to Manufacturing: Synergy of Product, Production and Skill” — signalled a decisive shift in India’s ambition to becoming a Product Nation.
 

Technovation Awards 2026 at the IESA Vision Summit celebrated innovation across Start-Ups, MSME, Enterprise, and Skilling categories
 

Congratulating to this year’s Technovation Award winners for their exceptional contributions to strengthening India’s semiconductor and electronics ecosystem, Mr. Ashok Chandak, President, IESA said, “The winners achievements represent the innovation depth, entrepreneurial spirit, and execution excellence that are shaping India’s technology future. By spotlighting excellence across the semiconductor and ESDM value chain, these awards continue to set new benchmarks for technology leadership and ecosystem impact in India.”
 

“Over the years, the Technovation Awards have evolved in step with the rapid transformation of India’s electronics and semiconductor landscape. The categories now span Startups, MSMEs, Enterprise & Services, Techno-Visionary Leaders, and Skilling & Academia — reflecting the full spectrum of innovation, manufacturing strength, global delivery capability, and talent development that defines our ecosystem,” he added.
 

The 2026 edition of the awards was supported by Applied Materials and Infineon which underscored strong industry backing for innovation and ecosystem development.
 

At the IESA Vision Summit 2026, the prestigious Technovation Awards recognised outstanding leaders and innovators :

  • Dr. Sarabhai Award presented to Mr. B. V. Naidu, Chairman, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), in recognition of his distinguished contributions spanning over three decades to the advancement of innovation, skill development, policy formulation, and industry growth — and his instrumental role in building a robust ESDM ecosystem that has firmly established Brand India on the global stage.

  • Distinguished category the TechnoVisionary Awards, honoured Shri Amitesh Kumar Sinha, CEO, India Semiconductor Mission and Additional Secretary MeitY (TechnoVisionary – Public Service); Mr. Swapnil Jain, Co-Founder, Ather Energy (TechnoVisionary – Industry); and Dr. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT Bangalore (Techno Mentor).

  • Technovation Awards, chosen through nominations and evaluated by a jury panel recognised Mr. Rajesh N. Gupta, CEO, MOSart Semiconductors (Start-up – Electronics); Mr. Dipanjan Gope, CEO, SimYog Technology (Start-up – Semiconductor); Mr. Sairanjan Mishra, CEO, H2LOOP AI Pvt. Ltd. (Start-up – IP); Mr. Ashutosh Shrikant Bhabhe, Director & CEO, IN14Silicon Solutions (Start-up – Services); Mr. Basavaraj Nagaraju, CEO, RV-SKILLS Center for Emerging Technologies (Skilling – Finishing School); Prof. Sanket Goel, Birla Chair Professor & Head, CREST, BITS Pilani (Skilling – University); Mr. Abhra Bagchi, CMO, FermionIC Design Pvt. Ltd. (MSME/SME – Semiconductor Products & IP Development); Mr. Taninder Sijher, VP Engineering, Sandisk India Device Design Centre (Enterprise – Multinational); and Dr. G. Sivakumar, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-NAL (Enterprise – India);
     

“As the country’s semiconductor market is projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030, the Technovation Awards play a critical role in recognising those translating policy vision into a tangible industry impact. We are so much prouder in celebrating innovation, design excellence, ecosystem leadership, and talent development, the awards reinforce India’s journey toward becoming a globally competitive semiconductor and electronics powerhouse,” Mr. Ashok Chandak further added.
 

Instituted in 2008 by the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association, the awards have grown into one of the most respected honours celebrating excellence, innovation, and transformative contributions across India’s semiconductor and electronics ecosystem.
 

About IESA
IESA is India’s premier industry body for ESDM & Intelligent Electronics. Our main objective is to establish India as a leading global hub for electronics manufacturing and design. We work with government ministries, industry players, and academic institutions to facilitate the comprehensive implementation of the Program for Development of Semiconductor and Display Ecosystem. Our team of renowned experts in semiconductor and display technologies is committed to promoting technology solutions that positively impact the lives of 1.3 billion Indians.
 

For more information, visit: www.iesaonline.org | www.iesa-visionsummit.com.

AONMeetings Earns Recognition in 30+ G2 Spring 2026 Reports, Including Asia Pacific and Asia Regional Rankings for Video Conferencing

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AONMeetings Earns Recognition in 30+ G2 Spring 2026 Reports, Including Asia Pacific and Asia Regional Rankings for Video Conferencing

AONMeetings, the HIPAA-compliant browser-based video conferencing platform serving over 1,000 businesses worldwide, today announced it has been recognized in more than 30 G2 Spring 2026 Reports across three categories: Video Conferencing, Webinar, and Virtual Event Platforms. Notably, AONMeetings earned placement in G2’s Asia Pacific Regional Grid® and Asia Regional Grid® Reports — a milestone that coincides with the company’s active India market expansion.

 

AONMeetings: Unlimited meetings, No time limits

 

“This recognition from G2 validates what thousands of businesses already know — AONMeetings delivers enterprise-grade video conferencing at a price that works for everyone,” said Dwight Reed, CEO and Founder of AONMeetings. “Being recognized specifically in Asia Pacific and Asia Regional reports as we launch in India is a powerful signal that our platform resonates with teams across the region.”

 

G2 Spring 2026 Recognition Highlights

AONMeetings earned placement across the following G2 Spring 2026 report categories:

 

Video Conferencing

  • Asia Pacific Regional Grid® Report

  • Asia Regional Grid® Report

  • Small-Business Asia Regional Grid® Report

  • Small-Business Asia Pacific Regional Grid® Report

  • Small-Business Grid® Report

  • Grid® Report

  • Relationship Index, Results Index & Usability Index — All Sizes

  • EMEA and Europe Regional Grid® Reports

 

Webinar

  • Grid® Report for Webinar

  • Small-Business Grid® Report for Webinar

  • Relationship Index, Results Index & Usability Index

  • EMEA Regional Grid® Report

 

Virtual Event Platforms

  • Grid® Report for Virtual Event Platforms

  • Small-Business Grid® Report

  • Europe & EMEA Regional Grid® Reports

 

Expanding Access Across India

AONMeetings launched its dedicated India platform at India.AONMeetings.com in early 2026, offering localized pricing starting at Rs. 179/user/month with UPI, Paytm, and major debit/credit card payment support. The platform requires no software downloads and operates entirely in the browser, making it accessible to businesses, clinics, schools, and organizations across India regardless of device or internet speed.

 

India pricing plans are designed to deliver significant savings over incumbent platforms like Zoom:

  • Starter: Rs. 179/user/month — up to 10 participants

  • Professional: Rs. 359/user/month — up to 25 participants

  • Business: Rs. 629/user/month — up to 100 participants

  • Enterprise: Rs. 1,522/user/month — up to 250 participants

 

All plans include HIPAA-compliant security, unlimited meeting time, webinars, and session recording at no additional cost.

 

“India’s 63 million small businesses and massive healthcare and education sectors deserve world-class video conferencing without world-class price tags,” Reed added. “Our G2 recognition across Asia Pacific gives Indian buyers independent, third-party confidence that AONMeetings is a proven, trusted platform.”

 

About AONMeetings

AONMeetings is a HIPAA-compliant, browser-based video conferencing platform founded in 2020 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. The platform serves over 1,000 businesses worldwide across healthcare, education, business, and religious organizations, offering video conferencing, webinars, and virtual events starting at $3.99/month. AONMeetings’ India platform is available at India.AONMeetings.com.

VELS Celebrates India's Leading Scientists on National Science Day

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VELS Celebrates India's Leading Scientists on National Science Day

On the occasion of National Science Day 2026, VELS Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS) hosted the prestigious VELS National Scitech Awards 2026 at its campus in Pallavaram, Chennai. The event recognised eminent scientists and research leaders for their outstanding contributions to science, technology, innovation, coastal sustainability, marine research, chemistry, and traditional medicine.

 

Eminent scientists were honoured at the VELS National Scitech Awards 2026 by Dr.Preethaa Ganesh Vice President Vels Group of Institutions


Instituted to honour excellence in science and research at the national level, the awards celebrated distinguished scientists whose work has significantly advanced innovation, sustainability, healthcare, coastal management, and national development.


National Science Day is observed annually on February 28 to commemorate the discovery of the Raman Effect by Nobel Laureate Sir C. V. Raman a landmark scientific breakthrough that placed India firmly on the global research map.

 

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Preethaa Ganesh, Vice-President of the VELS Group of Institutions, described science as the backbone of national progress and emphasized the need to cultivate a strong culture of inquiry, innovation, and responsibility among the youth.

 

She highlighted VELS Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS) for its robust research ecosystem and its recognition as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO). She also noted the university’s active collaborations with over 100 industry partners, strengthening academia – industry integration and research-driven innovation.

 

Dr. Preethaa Ganesh further underscored the pivotal role of the VELS Innovation Council in advancing research commercialization, facilitating patents and intellectual property rights (IPR), and promoting women-led entrepreneurship. She reiterated the institution’s commitment to fostering innovation, startup incubation, and industry-relevant research that contributes to national development and global competitiveness.


The distinguished awardees of the VELS National Scitech Awards 2026 included:

 

  • Dr. Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, National Institute of Ocean Technology

  • Dr. G. Senthil Vel, Director, National Institute of Siddha

  • Dr. P. Krishnan, Director, Bay of Bengal Programme Inter-Governmental Organisation

  • Dr. Ramesh L. Gardas, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Madras

  • Dr. V. Deepak Samuel, Scientist-E, National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management


Each awardee received a citation, a commemorative memento, and a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh in recognition of their exemplary contributions to their respective fields.


Through the VELS National Scitech Awards, VISTAS continues to strengthen India’s scientific ecosystem by recognising excellence, encouraging research leadership, and fostering innovation-driven nation building. The celebration reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to advancing impactful research and inspiring the next generation of scientists to contribute meaningfully to society and sustainable development
 

About VELS University
VELS Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies (VISTAS) continues to be recognised as one of the best deemed university in Chennai, distinguished by its prestigious NAAC A++ accreditation and UGC Category I status.


Home to over 20,000 students and supported by a dedicated faculty strength of 1,220 members, VISTAS offers more than 150 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a wide spectrum of disciplines. These include Medicine, Engineering, Nursing, Allied Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Management, Law, Mass Communication, Maritime Studies, Aviation, Physiotherapy, and Computing Sciences, among others.


With its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and holistic development, VISTAS remains a premier destination for quality higher education in India.

 

For more details kindly visit www.vistas.ac.in

VinFast India Bags 'New Entrant of the Year' at Faster Awards 2026

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VinFast India Bags 'New Entrant of the Year' at Faster Awards 2026

VinFast India, a leading innovator in electric mobility, has been honored with the “New Entrant of the Year” award at the FASTER Awards 2026, a prestigious automotive award organized by a federation of leading automotive journalists and industry experts in India. The judging panel commended the quality of the Vietnamese electric vehicle manufacturer’s products, as well as its strong commitment to advancing sustainable mobility in the South Asian nation.

 

Tapan Ghosh (third from the right), CEO of VinFast India, received the award from the organizers of the FASTER Awards 2026


As one of the industry’s most respected accolades, the FASTER Awards recognize outstanding achievements in vehicle performance, design, and technology, along with brand contributions to the green mobility transition in India. VinFast made a distinct impression through its strong commitment to the market, highlighted by the development of a modern manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, accompanied by a clear localization roadmap and a comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem. These efforts have enabled the company to build solid trust with local consumers within a short period of market presence.


VinFast’s impact as a new entrant was also recognized in communications, with the company receiving the “Communications Team of the Year 2026” title at this year’s FASTER Awards. The organizers noted that VinFast implemented a structured and consistent communications strategy, helping the brand stand out in a highly competitive and discerning market such as India.


The double win at the FASTER Awards brings VinFast’s total number of awards in the Indian market to nearly 20, reflecting strong recognition from industry experts for both brand stature and product quality. Previously, VinFast was named “Investor of the Year” by Nanayam Vikatan magazine and received the “EV Manufacturer of the Year” title at the Jagran Hi-Tech Awards 2025. The VF 7 was honored as “Electric SUV of the Year” at the BBC TopGear India Awards 2026, while the VF 6 won “Value for Money Car of the Year” at the Autocar India Awards 2026.


Mr. Tapan Ghosh, CEO of VinFast India, said, “We are thrilled to receive the New Entrant of the Year at the FASTER Awards 2026. This recognition is deeply meaningful for VinFast because it reflects the philosophy behind our India strategy. It reflects our dedication to crafting electric vehicles that offer unmatched value, safety, and practicality for Indian families. More importantly, it strengthens our mission to contribute meaningfully to India’s transition towards sustainable mobility.”


Mr. Amit Chhangani, Chairman, FASTER Awards, added, “The FASTER New Entrant of the Year Award is not given for ambition. It is given for execution. Executing in India, a market that is geographically vast, culturally layered, and deeply loyal to its existing brands, is not for the faint-hearted. VinFast arrived with a manufacturing commitment, a localisation strategy, and the patience to build trust before demanding it. That is precisely what this award recognises.”


VinFast India continues to strengthen its product and market momentum in the Indian EV landscape. Since launching the VF 6 and VF 7 electric SUVs, both of which recently secured 5-star Bharat NCAP safety ratings, VinFast India has strengthened its market presence across key regions. Building on this foundation, VinFast has introduced programmes aimed at improving ownership experience, including assured resale and structured buyback options for VF 6 and VF 7 customers, and is rapidly growing its retail footprint through new showrooms and service partnerships nationwide.


About VinFast
VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS), a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, is a pure-play electric vehicle (“EV”) manufacturer with the mission of making EVs accessible to everyone. VinFast’s product lineup today includes a wide range of electric SUVs, e-scooters, and e-buses. 


VinFast is currently embarking on its next growth phase through rapid expansion of its distribution and dealership network globally and increasing its manufacturing capacities with a focus on key markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.


Learn more at: vinfastauto.in

 

Three Decades of Impact: Mr B.V. Naidu Honoured with 'IESA Sarabhai Award' for Shaping India's ESDM Legacy

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Three Decades of Impact: Mr B.V. Naidu Honoured with 'IESA Sarabhai Award' for Shaping India's ESDM Legacy

Mr. B.V. Naidu, Chairman, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), has been honoured with the ‘IESA Sarabhai Award 2025–26,’ the most prestigious recognition conferred by the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA). The award, recognising Mr. Naidu’s contributions spanning over three decades to innovation, technology creation to deployment, skill development, policy formulation, developing emerging tech clusters, overall industry growth, and his instrumental role in building a resilient ESDM ecosystem to firmly establish Brand India on the global stage, was presented at the IESA Vision Summit 2026. The ceremony took place on February 26th, 2026, at The Leela Bharatiya City, Bengaluru, before a distinguished gathering of India’s foremost industry leaders, policymakers, and technology visionaries. 

 

B.V. Naidu,Chairman,KDEM, was felicitated with the prestigious IESA Sarabhai Award at the IESA Vision Summit 2026 for his continued contributions to India’s ESDM ecosystem


Named in honour of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, the father of India’s space programme,’IESA Sarabhai Award’ is among the industry’s highest recognitions, celebrating leaders whose institution-building vision and long-term impact have elevated India’s standing in the global electronics and semiconductor value chain. Conferring this honour upon Mr. B.V. Naidu, is a reflection of a career that has, quite literally, architected the digital destiny of a nation. 


“This recognition belongs to the countless innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and ecosystem builders who have worked together to shape Karnataka’s technology leadership. Our collective mission has always been to build globally competitive tech clusters, strengthen digital capabilities across the state, and ensure Karnataka remains at the forefront of India’s innovation-led growth. I remain committed to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, engineers, and institutions that will define India’s digital future,” said, Mr. B.V. Naidu, Chairman, KDEM. 


“Mr. Naidu didn’t just witness India’s digital transformation, he architected it. From strengthening institutional frameworks to fostering deeper industry-government collaboration, his work has helped create a stronger foundation for design-led innovation and manufacturing growth in the country. His contributions to the ESDM sector and national electronics policy have laid a foundation that generations of innovators will build upon. IESA is proud to have been associated with Mr. Naidu and is honoured to confer this award upon him, a recognition that is as much a celebration of his legacy as it is an inspiration for the journey ahead.” said, Ashok Chandak, President and CEO, IESA. 


“On behalf of the entire KDEM family, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. B.V. Naidu on receiving the IESA Sarabhai Award, a recognition that could not be more deserved. Working alongside him has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional journey. Mr. Naidu does not simply lead, he elevates everyone around him. As a mentor and institution-builder, he has consistently encouraged industry and policymakers to move beyond services-led scale toward design ownership, manufacturing depth, talent scaling, tech cluster developments, and global competitiveness. Every milestone we celebrate at KDEM bears his imprint, his strategic clarity, his unwavering belief in Karnataka’s potential beyond Bengaluru, and his tireless championing of the next generation of technology leaders. This award honours a vision that continues to shape India’s digital future,” said, Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, CEO, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM).


The IESA Sarabhai Award adds to a distinguished can of recognition for Mr. Naidu. He has previously received the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, the TiE Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award, NASSCOM “Pioneer Persons” award and most recently, the inaugural STPI Commendation Award at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025, bestowed in recognition of his decades-long leadership in building Karnataka’s global technology prominence. Each honour further reaffirms that Mr. Naidu is among the rarest of leaders, those whose contributions outlast the moment and define the era. 


About KDEM
Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) is a Section 8 not-for-profit organization acting as a knowledge bridge between the Government of Karnataka and the technology industry. Designed to accelerate the state’s IT, BT, and S&T sectors, KDEM champions strategic investments, research-driven opportunities, global promotions, and targeted policy advocacy all in support of contributing US$300 billion to India’s $1 trillion digital economy vision. Through its ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ initiative, KDEM empowers emerging tech clusters like Mangaluru, Mysuru, and Hubballi-Dharwad-Belagavi HDB, Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Kalaburgi, enabling organic growth and attracting investments for startups and enterprises. With over 28 companies already thriving in cluster cities, 9,000+ new jobs created, and ambitious goals such as 10,000 startups by 2030, KDEM is shaping the future workforce and driving inclusive innovation across Karnataka. With overall vision to make Brand Karnataka stronger & more powerful on the global tech & innovation map. 

PATWA International Travel Awards 2026 Presented at ITB, Berlin

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PATWA International Travel Awards 2026 Presented at ITB, Berlin

The Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) announced the winners of the prestigious PATWA International Travel Awards 2026 at a high-profile and power packed ceremony held during ITB, Berlin – the world’s largest travel trade show.

 

The winners of the PATWA International Travel Awards 2026

 

The awards ceremony followed the PATWA World Tourism Leaders’ Summit on ‘The Future of Tourism’ which brought together an influential line-up of global tourism ministers as speakers, from Grenada, Zimbabwe, Fiji, Botswana and Jamaica. Discussions centred on sustainability, innovation and the future of global travel, with particular emphasis on navigating geopolitical conflicts, climate change and evolving environmental challenges shaping the industry.

 

This year’s Partner Destinations were Grenada, Bahamas and Goa, with Aeropuertos Argentina serving as Event Partner.

Now in its 26th year, the PATWA International Travel Awards are widely regarded as among the travel industry’s most respected, authentic and coveted honours. The awards recognise excellence across governments, destinations, aviation, hospitality, tourism boards, travel technology companies and industry leaders worldwide.

 

The highlight of the awards was the Excellence in Governance category, recognising ministers and elected representatives whose policies and leadership have significantly advanced sustainable tourism development.

 

Yatan Ahluwalia, Secretary General of PATWA delivered the welcome address stating, “At a time when travel is being reshaped by global conflicts, sustainability, innovation, resilience and renewed purpose, recognising leadership and excellence across regions is more important than ever.”

 

Founded in 1999, the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) is an international professional media organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable growth across the travel, tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors worldwide. PATWA is an Affiliate Member of UN Tourism.

 

Quotes on the Awards

 

Yatan Ahluwalia, Secretary General: “The PATWA International Travel Awards stand as a benchmark of global excellence in travel, tourism, aviation and hospitality. This year, the jury undertook a rigorous evaluation of over 550 nominations, ultimately selecting just 80 awardees — an achievement that underscores the distinction and credibility of these honours. The winners represent the very best in leadership, innovation and commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism development across regions.”

 

Pulkit Sharma, Director – Operations & Features Editor:“Beyond destinations and institutions, the PATWA awards honour the dedication of industry leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals whose vision and leadership continue to elevate standards in hospitality, aviation, travel technology and tourism services. Recognising such excellence not only celebrates achievement but also sets benchmarks for the industry worldwide.”

 

The 2026 winners:

Destination

Destination of the Year – Vibrant Beaches: Nassau & Paradise Island, Destination of the Year – Natural Attractions: Republic of Armenia, Destination of the Year – Diverse Experiences: Federative Republic of Brasil, Destination of the Year – Earthly Experiences: Kingdom of Bhutan, Destination of the Year – Rejuvenation: Goa, Destination of the Year – Diverse Island Experiences: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Destination of the Year – Adventure Experiences: Republic of Ecuador, Destination of the Year – Diverse Landscapes: Republic of Angola, Destination of the Year – Lifetime Experiences: The Bahamas, Destination of the Year – Vibrant Island Experiences: Republic of Fiji, Destination of the Year – Thrilling Experiences, Republic of Botswana, Destination of the Year – Natural Wonders: Republic of Zimbabwe, Destination of the Year – Caribbean Experiences: Grenada, Destination of the Year – Beach Experiences: Mauritius and Destination of the Year – Worldwide: Jamaica.

 

Culture

Best Cultural Festival – Festa Junina: Federative Republic of Brasil.

 

Hospitality

Best MICE Venue (The Caribbean): Montego Bay Convention Centre, Jamaica, Best All-Inclusive Resort (The Caribbean): Spice Island Beach Resort, Grenada, Best Boutique Hotels – Authentic Experiences (The Caribbean): S Hotels, Jamaica, Best Hotels (South India): GRT Hotels & Resorts, Best Retreat – Wellness (India): Kairali, Best Hotels – Lifestyle Experiences (South Asia): Hilton, Best Hotels – Service Excellence: Taj Hotels.

 

Aviation

Best Company – Airport Hospitality Services (India): Encalm Hospitality, Best Company – Airport Management (South America): Aeropuertos Argentina, Best Airport (Asia): Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, Best Airport (South Pacific Islands): Nadi International Airport, Fiji, Best Airport – Innovation (Middle East) Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, Best Airline of the Year (The Caribbean): Sunrise Airways, Best Airline of the Year – Regional (The Caribbean): InterCaribbean Airways, Best Airline of the Year – Service Excellence (Asia): Thai Airways International.

 

Organisational Excellence

Best Organisation – Tourism Development (Asia): India Tourism Development Corporation, Best Organisation – Travel Trade Fair & Events: Messe Berlin.

 

Travel Services

Best Company – Travel Services (Subcontinent Region): Sita, Best Communications Agency – Travel & Tourism: FINN Partners, Best Platform – Regenerative Tourism: Travelware, Best Port – Cruise Liners (The Caribbean): The WICO Dock, U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

Individual Excellence – Tourism (Patwa Gold Awards)

Excellence in Ecological Tourism (Himalayan Region): Mr. Damcho Rinzin, Excellence in Tourism (Subcontinent Region): Mr. Dipak Deva, Excellence in Destination Management (Europe): Ms. Alessandra Priante, Excellence in Destination Promotions (The Caribbean): Ms. Joy Jibrilu, Excellence in Destination Management (The Caribbean): Ms. Latia Duncombe, Excellence in Destination Development (The Caribbean): Ms. Stacey Liburd, Tourism Legacy: Mr. Alain St. Ange and Lifetime Achievement – Tourism: Sir Baltron Bethel.

 

Individual Excellence – Hospitality (Patwa Gold Awards)

Excellence in MICE Hospitality (The Caribbean): Ms. Mureen James, Excellence in Hospitality Innovation (Jamaica): Mr. Christopher Issa, Woman of the Year – Hospitality (The Caribbean): Ms. Janelle M. Hopkin, Excellence in Operations – Hospitality (India): Mr. Satyajeet Krishnan, Excellence in Management – People & Culture: Hospitality (India) – Mr. Gaurav Pokhariyal, Excellence in Innovation – Commercial – Hospitality (India): Mr. Parveen Chander, Excellence in Wellness – Hospitality (India): Mr. Abhilash K. Ramesh, Excellence in Hospitality Innovation (India): Mr. Vikram Cotah and Excellence in Leadership – Hospitality (South Asia): Mr. Zubin Saxena.

 

Individual Excellence – Aviation (Patwa Gold Awards)

Person of the Year – Airlines (Asia): Mr. Chai Eamsiri, Excellence in Airline Leadership (The Caribbean): Mr. Philippe Bayard, Excellence in Airline Operations (The Caribbean): Mr. Trevor Sadler, Excellence in Leadership – Airports (Asia): Ms. Paweena Jariyathitipong, Excellence in Leadership – Airports (South Pacific Islands): Mr. Mesake Nawari, Excellence in Innovation – Airports (Middle East): Mr. Manish Seth and Excellence in Innovation – Airports (South America): Mr. Daniel Ketchibachian.

 

Individual Excellence – Travel Services (Patwa Gold Awards)

Excellence in Airport Hospitality Services: Mr. Vikas Sharma, Excellence in Tourism PR & Communications: Ms. Debbie Flynn, Excellence in Innovation – Tech Regenerative Tourism: Mr. Michele Zavoli and Best New CEO – Ports (Worldwide): Mr. Joseph B. Boschulte.

 

Individual Excellence – Organisations (Patwa Gold Awards)

Excellence in Tourism Development (Asia): Ms. Mugdha Sinha and Excellence in Leadership – Trade Fairs: Dr. Mario Tobias.

 

Excellence In Governance

Excellence in Governance – Destination Management (Caucasus Region): H.E. Lusine Gevorgyan (Republic of Armenia), Tourism Minister of the Year – Inclusive Growth: H.E. Mateo Julián Estrella Durán (Republic of Ecuador), Tourism Minister of the Year – Sustainable Development: H.E. Adrian A. Thomas (Grenada), Tourism Minister of the Year – Nature Conservation: H.E. Wynter Boipuso Mmolotsi (Republic of Botswana), Tourism Minister of the Year – Innovation (Asia): H.E. Rohan Khaunte (Goa), Tourism Minister of the Year – Resurrection: H.E. Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel (Republic of Angola), Tourism Minister of the Year – Sustainability: H.E. Chester Cooper (The Bahamas), Tourism Minister of the Year – Heritage Conservation: H.E. Diya Kumari (Rajasthan), Tourism Minister of the Year (Oceania Region): H.E. Viliame R. Gavoka (Republic of Fiji), Tourism Minister of the Year (Africa): H.E. Barbara Rwodzi (Republic of Zimbabwe), Tourism Minister of the Year (Indian Ocean Region): H.E. Christian Harold Richard Duval (Republic of Mauritius) and Tourism Minister of the Year (Worldwide) H.E. Edmund Bartlett (Jamaica).

3,000+ Indians to Swiss Alps in One Year, Switrus Holidays Receives Recognition from SWITZERLAND

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3,000+ Indians to Swiss Alps in One Year, Switrus Holidays Receives Recognition from SWITZERLAND

Indian outbound travel company Switrus Holidays has achieved a landmark milestone by bringing over 3,000 Indian travellers to the Swiss Alps within a single year of its official partnership with Jungfrau Railways.

 

Switrus Holidays Honoured by Jungfrau Railways for Serving 3000+ Travellers

 

The achievement makes Switrus one of the highest-contributing Indian tour operators to Switzerland’s iconic alpine tourism sector and has earned the company formal recognition as an Official Partner for promoting Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, one of Europe’s most visited mountain destinations.

 

A Record Year for Indian Tourism to Switzerland

 

Within just the first year of collaboration, Switrus successfully operated large-scale Europe group tours, sending more than 3,000 Indian tourists to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe.

 

This milestone highlights the rapidly growing demand for Switzerland tour packages from India and reinforces India’s importance as a key source market for Swiss tourism.

 

Europe-Only Specialist with Weekly Departures to EUROPE

 

Founded in India in 2013, Switrus Holidays has built its brand exclusively around Europe group tours. The company is currently operating weekly scheduled Europe departures from India, reflecting operational scale, structured planning, and destination specialization.

 

Unlike general outbound travel companies offering multiple global destinations, Switrus focuses solely on Europe, positioning itself as a dedicated Europe tour operator from India.

 

Strengthened Presence with Germany Office

 

As part of its international expansion strategy, the company has established Switrus Holidays GmbH in Germany to strengthen its European base operations.

 

The Germany presence enables:

  • Direct coordination with European suppliers

  • Improved service standards

  • Better pricing control

  • Stronger on-ground support for Indian travellers

 

This operational structure provides Switrus with a strategic advantage in managing large-scale Switzerland and Europe group tours.

 

Strengthening India–Switzerland Tourism Relations

 

The recognition from Jungfrau Railways reflects India’s growing contribution to Swiss tourism and marks a defining moment for Indian outbound travel brands expanding their global footprint.

 

With over 13 years of experience and a rapidly expanding pan-India presence with offices in Delhi, Maharashtra , Gujarat, West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu & Kerala,   Switrus Holidays continues to play a significant role in driving Indian tourism to Europe.

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