Academic Leadership Meet – 2026

Academic Leadership
Meet 2026

Academic Leadership, Innovation & Industry–Academia Collaboration

19 September 2026•11:00 AM – 2:00 PM•JNTU Anantapuramu

Meet at a Glance

The Meet at a Glance

A strategic gathering of academic leaders focused on innovation, research, future-ready education, and stronger industry–academia collaboration through Innovators Conclave 2026.

19 Sept

Event Date

Academic Leadership Meet 2026 taking place at JNTU Anantapuramu.

11 AM – 2 PM

Main Session

A focused academic leadership interaction followed by lunch.

Distinguished Guests

Senior leaders from government, universities, higher education, and industry.

Industry–Academia

Core Focus

Building stronger connections across education, innovation, research, and industry.

Purpose of the Meet

Building Academic
& Innovation Partnerships

The Academic Leadership Meet provides a platform for academic institutions to understand, engage with, and contribute to Innovators Conclave 2026 through student participation, faculty engagement, research, innovation, and industry collaboration.

Academic Leadership Engagement

Bringing together Vice-Chancellors, Principals, Directors, Deans, Heads of Departments, and senior academic leaders to discuss institutional participation and opportunities through Innovators Conclave 2026.

Student Participation

Creating pathways for institutions to involve students in Innovators Conclave 2026 through innovation showcases, challenges, projects, and other opportunities for future-ready learning.

Faculty & Research Engagement

Encouraging faculty and researchers to contribute as mentors, domain experts, researchers, evaluators, and participants while exploring research and innovation opportunities.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Strengthening institutional innovation ecosystems by connecting innovation cells, incubation centres, entrepreneurship initiatives, and emerging technology programs with a wider innovation platform.

Industry–Academia Connect

Building meaningful connections between academic institutions, industry leaders, government stakeholders, research organizations, and the broader innovation ecosystem.

Institutional Collaboration

Exploring participation models, institutional delegations, collaboration opportunities, strategic nominations, and long-term partnerships connected to Innovators Conclave 2026.

Meet Schedule

Academic Leadership
Meet Agenda

19 September 2026 — A focused academic leadership programme covering institutional participation, research, innovation, emerging technologies, and industry–academia collaboration.

10:30 – 11:00 AM

Guest Arrival, Registration & Networking

Arrival

Arrival of distinguished guests and academic leaders, registration, and networking ahead of the Academic Leadership Meet.

11:00 – 11:05 AM

Welcome & Opening

Opening

Formal opening of the Academic Leadership Meet 2026.

11:05 – 11:15 AM

Welcome Address & Introduction to Innovators Conclave 2026

Address

Welcome address and introduction to the vision and purpose of Innovators Conclave 2026 by Prof. H. Sudarsana Rao, Vice-Chancellor, JNTU Anantapuramu.

11:15 – 11:30 AM

Anantapuramu’s Vision for Innovators Conclave 2026

Address

Building a district-level innovation ecosystem and exploring the role of Anantapuramu in strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship.

11:30 – 11:45 AM

How Universities Can Leverage Innovators Conclave 2026

Address

Opportunities for students, faculty, research, and institutional participation through Innovators Conclave 2026 by Prof. N.V.R. Jyoti Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Sri Krishnadevaraya University.

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Future-Ready Education, Innovation & Emerging Technologies

Address

Exploring Innovators Conclave 2026 as a platform for future-ready education, innovation, and emerging technologies by Prof. C. Sheela Reddy, Vice-Chancellor (I/C), Central University of Andhra Pradesh.

12:00 – 12:10 PM

Academic Leadership Interaction

Interaction

Interactive session focused on expectations, opportunities, and institutional engagement with Innovators Conclave 2026.

12:10 PM

Departure of Distinguished Guests

Departure

Departure of distinguished guests as per schedule.

12:10 – 12:30 PM

Innovators Conclave 2026 – Vision, Glimpses & Key Highlights

Highlights

An overview of the vision, key highlights, opportunities, and overall scope of Innovators Conclave 2026 presented by Dr. R. Hafeez Basha, CEO – Ratan Tata Innovation Hub, Anantapur Spoke, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, and Sri Manegar Sarmas Vali.

12:30 – 1:10 PM

How Academic Institutions Can Leverage Innovators Conclave 2026

Session

Exploring student participation, faculty engagement, research opportunities, innovation showcases, industry connect, and institutional benefits.

1:10 – 1:35 PM

Academic Institution Interaction

Interaction

Discussion on participation models, collaboration opportunities, institutional engagement, and ways academic institutions can participate in Innovators Conclave 2026.

1:35 – 1:50 PM

Institutional Participation Roadmap

Roadmap

Understanding the roadmap for institutional participation and the next steps for engaging with Innovators Conclave 2026.

1:50 – 1:55 PM

Key Decisions & Action Points

Action Points

Summary of key decisions, commitments, and actionable outcomes from the Academic Leadership Meet.

1:55 – 2:00 PM

Vote of Thanks

Closing

Formal closing and acknowledgement of distinguished guests, academic leaders, institutions, and participants.

2:00 PM onwards

Lunch

Lunch and continued informal networking among academic leaders, institutional representatives, and distinguished guests.

Distinguished Guests

Distinguished Guests
& Academic Leaders

Distinguished leaders from government, universities, higher education, research, and industry coming together for the Academic Leadership Meet 2026 at JNTU Anantapuramu.

Sri O. Anand, I.A.S.

Collector & District Magistrate

Anantapuramu

Distinguished Guest 01

Sri O. Anand, I.A.S.

Collector & District Magistrate

Anantapuramu

Session / Focus

Anantapuramu’s Vision for Innovators Conclave 2026 & Building a District-Level Innovation Ecosystem

Prof. H. Sudarsana Rao

Vice-Chancellor

JNTU Anantapuramu

Distinguished Guest 02

Prof. H. Sudarsana Rao

Vice-Chancellor

JNTU Anantapuramu

Session / Focus

Welcome Address & Introduction to Innovators Conclave 2026

Prof. N.V.R. Jyoti Kumar

Vice-Chancellor

Sri Krishnadevaraya University (SKU)

Distinguished Guest 03

Prof. N.V.R. Jyoti Kumar

Vice-Chancellor

Sri Krishnadevaraya University (SKU)

Session / Focus

How Universities Can Leverage Innovators Conclave 2026 for Students, Faculty & Research

Prof. C. Sheela Reddy

Vice-Chancellor (I/C)

Central University of Andhra Pradesh

Distinguished Guest 04

Prof. C. Sheela Reddy

Vice-Chancellor (I/C)

Central University of Andhra Pradesh

Session / Focus

Innovators Conclave 2026 as a Platform for Future-Ready Education, Innovation & Emerging Technologies

Dr. R. Hafeez Basha

CEO

Ratan Tata Innovation Hub, Anantapur Spoke, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh

Distinguished Guest 05

Dr. R. Hafeez Basha

CEO

Ratan Tata Innovation Hub, Anantapur Spoke, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh

Session / Focus

Innovators Conclave 2026 – Vision, Glimpses & Key Highlights

Shri Manegar Sarmas Vali

CEO

Etherwing Aerospace

Distinguished Guest 06

Shri Manegar Sarmas Vali

CEO

Etherwing Aerospace

Session / Focus

Innovators Conclave 2026 – Vision, Glimpses & Key Highlights

Academic Leadership

Who Should Be Part
of Innovators Conclave?

The Academic Leadership Meet brings together senior academic leaders, institutional decision-makers, research heads, innovation leaders, and faculty to explore participation, collaboration, and industry-academia opportunities through Innovators Conclave 2026.

Vice-Chancellors & University Leadership

Vice-Chancellors, Pro Vice-Chancellors, Chairpersons, Trustees, and senior university leaders shaping institutional vision, innovation, and higher education strategy.

Principals & Directors

Principals, Directors, and campus executive heads leading institutional growth, academic excellence, student participation, and industry collaboration.

Deans & Heads of Departments

Deans, HODs, and senior academic officers driving curriculum development, emerging technologies, interdisciplinary learning, and academic innovation.

R&D & Research Leaders

Deans of R&D, research directors, faculty researchers, and academic leaders exploring research collaboration, innovation showcases, and technology transfer.

Innovation & Startup Cell Leads

Innovation, Entrepreneurship, incubation, and startup cell leaders fostering campus entrepreneurship and connecting students with emerging innovation ecosystems.

Academic Administrators & Senior Faculty

Registrars, academic administrators, senior faculty, and institutional coordinators building partnerships, enabling student engagement, and strengthening industry-academia collaboration.

From Dialogue to Action

From Academic Leadership
to Innovation in Action.

The Academic Leadership Meet 2026 brings together academic decision-makers to understand the vision of Innovators Conclave 2026 and identify meaningful opportunities for their institutions, students, faculty, and researchers.

Through focused interaction, institutional discussions, and a clear participation roadmap, the meet aims to turn academic leadership engagement into active participation across student innovation, faculty engagement, research, innovation showcases, industry connect, and institutional collaboration.

Together, academic institutions can help build a stronger district-level and national innovation ecosystem while creating new pathways for students, faculty, researchers, and emerging innovators.

Support & Queries