New Delhi, September 23, 2026: The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, inaugurated a two-day International Conference on ‘Empowering MSMEs to Lead the Industry 5.0 Transition’ on September 23-24, 2026, supported by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India. The conference was inaugurated on September 23, 2026 in the presence of Chief Guest Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Government of India & EDII Governing Board Member; Ms. Kshipra Agre, IAS, Commissioner, MSME (Industries & Mines Dept.), Government of Gujarat; Shri Aman Samir, IAS, Director (MSME), Department of Industries, Government of Bihar and Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII.
The conference aims to provide a platform for policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, academia and other stakeholders to deliberate on the evolving role of MSMEs in the Industry 5.0 transition, with a focus on technology adoption, innovation and sustainability.
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Government of India said, “MSMEs are the key to growth for any nation. They have to be nurtured through enabling policies and a supportive ecosystem to ensure their growth, which ultimately contributes to the growth of the national economy. As the world moves towards Industry 5.0, it is important for MSMEs to understand and embrace emerging technologies while keeping people, sustainability and resilience at the centre of their growth. I am sure this conference will serve as a crucial platform for sharing best practices, exploring new opportunities and building meaningful associations, leading to a strong foundation for the growth and competitiveness of MSMEs.”
Ms. Kshipra Agre, IAS, Commissioner, MSME (Industries & Mines Dept.), Government of Gujarat, said, “Entrepreneurial proficiency is a key factor for MSME entrepreneurs aiming to contribute significantly to economic growth. A higher entrepreneurial quotient among entrepreneurs strengthens the business ecosystem and creates a resilient and sustainable model for growth. This conference is a significant step towards creating knowledge infrastructure in the domain of MSMEs and Industry 5.0. This initiative will facilitate experience sharing and mutual learning.”
Shri Aman Samir, IAS, Director (MSME), Department of Industries, Government of Bihar said, “The transition towards Industry 5.0 presents significant opportunities for MSMEs to enhance their productivity, competitiveness and resilience. It is important to create greater awareness about emerging technologies and facilitate their adoption by enterprises, particularly those seeking to scale and integrate into the evolving value chains. The conference is planned well to provide an opportunity for policymakers, industry and entrepreneurs to exchange experiences and identify practical and scalable approaches.”
Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII, expressing his opinion, said, “MSMEs have come to play a vital role in the development of economies across countries. India has several beneficial MSME-related schemes and policies and is constantly seeking to institute ways and means to strengthen the sector. The transition to Industry 5.0 brings together technology, human capabilities and sustainability, creating new possibilities for MSMEs. This international conference is very well represented and will certainly facilitate meaningful dialogue and knowledge exchange in this realm.”
The conference brought together 120 delegates from 3 countries and 6 Indian states for knowledge exchange, experience sharing and discussions on emerging approaches for MSMEs in the Industry 5.0 era. The conference features expert sessions by international speakers, including Ms. Diana Cisneros, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Hero Startup, Peru (Theme: The Bulletproof Supply chain Leveraging Digital Twins to Predict and Survive Disruption); Prof. Siri Roland Xavier, Professor & Programme Director, Tun Razak Graduate School (TRGS), Unirazak, Malaysia (Theme: NextGen Innovation and Ecosystem for Industry 5.0) and Dr. Patcharaporn Boonyos (Mo), Business Service Development Expert at ISMED, Business Consultant, Strategic & Sustainability Professional, Thailand (Theme: Building Industry 5.0 AI where Smart Data meets Human Control).
The conference also features sessions and panel discussions by eminent industry and technology experts, including Dr. Anand Bhadalkar, Director, Savli Technology & Business Incubator (STBI), Government of Gujarat; Dr. Jaimin R. Vasa, Chairman and M D of Vasa Pharmachem and Vasa Wellness; Ms. Chhail Khalsa, Founder & Creative Principal,, Anuvad Innovation Studio LLP; Mr. Hunny Bhagchandani, Founder, Torchit; Mr. Nirav Galaiya, Vice President, Impel Intralogistics; Dr. Ravindra Raj BM, Founder and Managing Director,, Omspace Rocket and Exploration Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Sunil Mainani, Chief Executive Officer,, Aronec FinWise Pvt. Ltd.; Mr. Vaibhav Shitole, Founder & CEO, IOTA Diagnostic; Mr. Vijaysinh Rahevar, Founder,Mindstein Technology Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. Yash Patel, SixD Engineering Solutions Pvt. Ltd. — Digital Engineering and Immersive Technology Professional.