Guwahati, Dec 13 – The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati successfully hosted the 17th Indian STEPs & Business Incubators Association Conference (ISBACON 2025) from December 10 to 12, marking the first time the event has been held in Northeast India. The conference, themed “Enabling the Enablers for a Viksit Bharat,” aimed to align regional aspirations with the national startup movement and strengthen India’s innovation driven entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The inaugural session was graced by Ashok Puranik, Director of AIIMS Guwahati, as the Chief Guest, and Rajesh Thakur, Administrator of Guwahati Biotech Park, along with Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati. Prasad Menon, President of ISBA, highlighted the significance of hosting the conference in the Northeast, celebrating 20 years of ISBA and the growing role of enablers in India’s startup ecosystem.
Event Highlights
Over three days, ISBACON 2025 brought together more than 200 participants and 300 delegates from academia, industry, and government. The event featured 20 sessions, including panel discussions, masterclasses, and keynote addresses, addressing themes such as:
ISBA@20: The Journey of Incubators
Local to Global: Strengthening International Linkages
Building Growth Partnerships for Incubators and Startups
Tier II & III Incubation Ecosystems for DeepTech
Shaping India’s Multi-Sectored Approach
A key roundtable discussion on “Vision for Deep Tech Innovation and Incubation in the Times of Viksit Bharat” provided actionable insights into policy requirements, infrastructure needs, and collaboration opportunities to accelerate innovation.
The conference featured 37 distinguished speakers, including ISBA Advisory Board members, who discussed incubation excellence, emerging technologies, sophisticated funding mechanisms, social impact, and strategies for building resilient institutions.
Fostering Collaboration and Regional Impact
Swapnil Sinha, CEO of IIT Guwahati BioNEST, expressed enthusiasm about hosting the conference, emphasizing its role in providing a launchpad for startup enablers in Northeast India.
The event was supported by leading financial institutions, including IDFC First Bank and HDFC Parivarthan, as well as government bodies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and BIRAC. ISBACON 2025 strengthened cross-regional collaboration, policy integration, and capacity building, reinforcing India’s vision of a Viksit Bharat through innovation and entrepreneurship.