SPJIMR Launches WISE Tech For Tech Innovation

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s S P Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) disclosed the Wise Innovation Studio for Emerging Technologies (WISE Tech). WISE Tech is a group of innovators united by a shared interest in developing and responsibly deploying technology-based solutions for societal and environmental benefits. The community includes tech entrepreneurs, SPJIMR students and alumni, corporate innovators, investors, CSR leaders and academicians working on responsible, sustainable and ethical aspects of innovation.

Varun Nagaraj, Dean, SPJIMR, shared, “Society’s grand challenges need innovative and entrepreneurial responses, but innovation needs to be wisely done and for the right reasons and in the right way. WISE Tech’s goal is the knowledge and community hub for all tech-based related matters.”

WISE Tech will house the following initiatives: 

Sunil Bhatia Start-up Resource Hub 

The hub supports India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing networking and learning resources, boot camps, workshops and other resources for early-stage entrepreneurs. It hosts a vibrant community comprising mentors, investors, corporates, subject matter experts (SMEs), educators and founders, supported by an endowment from Sunil Bhatia, SPJIMR alumnus and former CEO of Infogain. 

Accelerators

Two dedicated start-up accelerators champion wise innovation: ‘FinNovate’ for responsible finance and ‘EarthLab’ for sustainability-focused ventures, these accelerators admit around 30 start-ups annually and work closely with them to accelerate their growth and funding. This is achieved through a structured four-month programme consisting of CXO mentors, a start-up curriculum, market access and funding opportunities. 

Entrepreneurship Fellowship 

The entrepreneurship fellowship programme is designed for early-stage entrepreneurs who have not yet developed a viable product or acquired customers. Annually, we aim to select up to 10 promising entrepreneurs and guide them in transforming their ideas into viable start-ups that will generate a net positive impact on the economy, society and the environment.

Wise Innovation Conclave 

A unique academic-practitioner conference drawn from a big tent of academic scholarship in sustainability-oriented innovation, responsible innovation, ethics, technology and society. The conclave brings together leading scholars, chief innovation officers, chief sustainability officers and CSR officers seeking insights on how to adapt their innovation. 

Manoj Mohan, who previously led SPJIMR’s Centre for Financial Innovation, will now lead WISE Tech as its Executive Director. He will be supported by two SPJIMR Executives in Residence: R Ramanan, who formerly chaired the Atal Innovation Mission at NITI Aayog and Haresh Chawla, Partner at True North and the influential commentator on India’s digital landscape.