The Indian economy is currently in a bright spot. With the number of billionaires in the country having doubled, India has further strengthened its position in the global market. While several major economies across the world are grappling with challenges, India has been able to sustain its growth momentum, driven by strong democratic dividends and proactive policy measures taken by the Government.
The recent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United Kingdom is poised to expand India’s trade relations with the UK across multiple sectors, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Against this backdrop, Global Business Inroads (GBI) organised the Innovate UK – GBIP networking event on 7th October 2025, jointly hosted by Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Chennai. A delegation of 15 innovative SMEs from the UK engaged in fruitful interactions with their Indian counterparts during the programme.
Welcoming the delegates, Dr. M. Subaji, Director – Global Engagement, VIT Chennai, expressed gratitude to GBI for arranging the visit and facilitating this collaborative platform. He also provided an overview of VIT’s innovative initiatives across multiple domains, including R&D, Artificial Intelligence, and Clean Energy.
In his felicitation address, Dr. G.V. Selvam, Vice President, VIT Chennai, underscored the Institute’s strong global rankings across diverse academic and research fields and reiterated its commitment to societal development. He emphasised the importance of robust industry–academia linkages to foster the exchange of ideas and innovation.
Dr. R. Sivakumar, Professor & Dean – SPORIC and School of Mechanical Engineering (SMEC), VIT, highlighted the Institute’s strong belief in innovation and outlined several ongoing programmes aimed at fostering creativity and industry collaboration. He noted that leading companies such as Hyundai, HCL, TAFE, Valeo, Samsung, and Siemens have partnered with VIT to leverage its expertise and accelerate innovation. These collaborations, he added, also open up significant career opportunities for students.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Harsha Lingam, Chief Operating Officer, GBI, spoke about the deepening India–UK partnership in diverse sectors such as automotive, clean energy, and biotechnology. He noted that GBI supports over 200 organisations and works closely with governments, private enterprises, and R&D institutions to facilitate cross-border industry collaborations. GBI also assists companies focused on innovation through specialised platforms in areas such as battery research and biofuels.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. G. Sakthivel, Dean – Intellectual Property Rights, VIT, shared that the Institute has already established partnerships with several overseas universities, including those in the UK. He revealed that VIT has undertaken projects worth over ₹1 crore dedicated to advancing global innovations.
The UK delegates expressed their appreciation for the state-of-the-art facilities at the VIT Chennai campus and showed keen interest in the institution’s well-managed laboratories and R&D centres.