Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla indicated on Saturday that the conglomerate is looking to expand its investments in Uttar Pradesh, where it already operates several industrial facilities. According to reports from ANI, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 15th convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) in Varanasi, Birla highlighted the group's longstanding ties with the state and its plans for further expansion. 'We have a strong association with the state. We have many industries here, and we also have plans to invest further,' Birla stated, though he did not share details about the proposed investment, including the amount, expected timeline or sectors that could receive fresh funding.
Birla emphasized the importance of closer ties between industry and academic institutions, stating that such partnerships could enable businesses to benefit from research carried out in India. As reported by LiveMint, he said 'Today, there is no bridge between industry and academia. Academic institutions in India are now conducting very high-quality research on different subjects, including topics relevant to industry.' He noted that stronger cooperation between the two sectors could create opportunities for students to participate in research while allowing companies to draw on the work being undertaken by academic institutions. 'I believe that if a bridge can be built where industry and academia can collaborate, it can greatly benefit students through research. Industry can also benefit from the research being conducted by academic institutions,' he mentioned.
Birla called for businesses and educational institutions to build stronger partnerships, particularly as India approaches what he described as 'the 25 most consequential years ahead.' According to LiveMint, he said 'I think this is the right time, as India stands before the 25 most consequential years ahead of it, for us to forge a partnership between academia and industry.' He urged young graduates to keep learning, adapt to changing circumstances and build emotional resilience to make the most of available opportunities, stating that 'The opportunities available today, especially in India, are perhaps greater than ever before.'
