Interview with Dr Umesh Dutta, CEO, Manav Rachna Innovation and Incubation Foundation

The education sector is witnessing a significant transformation with the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) and internet of things (IoT). This revolution is being driven by 5G networks, which offer substantially higher bandwidth and lower latency. Dr Umesh Dutta, Chief Executive Officer, Manav Rachna Innovation and Incubation Foundation share their views with tele.net on the technology trends shaping the edtech space, emerging use cases of these technologies and deployment challenges…

How have information and communication technology (ICT) needs evolved in the education space over the past few years?

Over the past few years, the ICT landscape in education has undergone a significant shift. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital platforms, but beyond that, we are seeing deeper integration of technology into pedagogy itself. Earlier, ICT was largely about digitising administrative tasks and offering basic online learning tools. Today, it is about creating immersive, personalised and collaborative learning experiences. Hybrid learning models have become the norm, and there is a stronger emphasis on data-driven decision making, whether it is tracking student progress or designing curricula that respond to evolving industry needs.

At Manav Rachna Innovation and Incubation Foundation (MRIIF), we have also noticed a growing demand from our incubatees and partner institutions for ICT solutions that support entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems, such as virtual labs, digital prototyping tools and remote mentorship platforms.

How are you leveraging new-age technologies such as 5G, AI, IoT, cloud and blockchain? What are their noteworthy use cases?

We are leveraging new-age technologies in a very hands-on and impact-driven way at MRIIF. AI is at the core of many student and start-up projects, especially in areas such as predictive analytics, smart healthcare and automation. We encourage our incubatees to experiment with AI-based solutions and provide them access to resources to sharpen their prototypes.

5G is opening new avenues for us, particularly in creating real-time, interactive learning environments. It enables video collaboration and remote participation, which has been a big plus during our nationwide hackathons and innovation challenges. These hackathons have become an important tool for us to spot talent and drive problem-solving using cutting-edge technologies.

We are also integrating extended reality (XR) into our ecosystem through platforms such as EON XR. This allows students and innovators to build and experience immersive simulations, which is especially valuable for technical education, healthcare training and design thinking exercises. It bridges the gap between theory and practice in a very engaging way.

At the grassroots level, initiatives such as the Scratch Olympiad help us promote coding and computational thinking among school students. This builds a strong foundation for future innovators and ensures that our technology pipeline remains inclusive and widespread.  Overall, these technologies are not just buzzwords for us, they are actively shaping projects, competitions and collaborations that drive real-world impact.

What challenges have you experienced in terms of adoption? How are you addressing those?

Adoption has not been without challenges. One major hurdle is the digital divide. While urban centres adapt quickly, rural and underserved areas often lack the infrastructure to fully benefit from these technologies. We are addressing this through partnerships with government bodies and CSR initiatives aimed at improving digital access.

Another challenge is change management within institutions; there is often resistance to new technologies due to lack of familiarity or fear of disruption. To tackle this, we focus heavily on capacity building, offering training sessions, workshops and hands-on support to educators, administrators and entrepreneurs. Data privacy and cybersecurity concerns also need careful handling, especially when dealing with cloud and AI systems. Here, we ensure compliance with best practices and international standards.

What top priorities are expected to shape your organisation’s digital roadmap over the next two-three years?

Over the next two to three years, our priority is to deepen digital integration across all functions of MRIIF, from incubation to academic partnerships and research collaborations. We are focusing on building a robust digital platform that connects start-ups, mentors, investors and academia seamlessly. Enhancing our data analytics capabilities is another priority, as we aim to make our programmes more responsive and outcome-driven. We also plan to expand our work in emerging areas such as deep tech and sustainability, which will require investment in specialised digital tools and infrastructure. Strengthening cybersecurity frameworks and ensuring inclusive access to our services are also key elements of our roadmap.

Which key digital trends are expected to impact the sector going forward?

Looking ahead, I believe the convergence of AI with other technologies such as IoT and blockchain will redefine both education and innovation ecosystems. Personalised and competency-based learning models powered by AI will become mainstream. There is also a growing emphasis on the use of digital twins and simulation tools, particularly in engineering and life sciences education.

In the start-up space, we expect more traction in areas such as sustainable technologies, where digital solutions will play a critical role. Another significant trend is the rise of decentralised and micro-credentialing platforms, which could disrupt traditional degree-based education models. And of course, with increasing interconnectivity, cybersecurity and data sovereignty will remain pressing concerns, shaping policies and technology choices across the sector.