Patna Hosts ‘Ideas for Bihar: An Innovation Summit 3.0’ to Boost Tech-Driven Innovation and Perception Change

Chirag Gupta

Patna: Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha highlighted the significance of GTRi’s ‘Ideas for Bihar: An Innovation Summit 3.0’ in fostering innovation and changing the perception of Bihar. Speaking at the inaugural session of the summit organized by Grand Trunk Road Initiatives (GTRi) at Hotel Lemon Tree Premier, Sinha emphasized the importance of technology and entrepreneurship in reviving Bihar’s industries and start-up ecosystem.

Sinha praised GTRi for its efforts in bringing renowned tech experts, entrepreneurs, and start-up leaders to Bihar, underscoring the role of such initiatives in altering the negative image of the state. He expressed confidence that the summit would inspire Bihar’s youth to engage in entrepreneurship and innovation, helping to reclaim the state’s historical position as a leader in innovation.

The Deputy Chief Minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting such initiatives, ensuring that all necessary cooperation would be provided. He acknowledged the rich history of innovation in Bihar and the potential for modern tech-driven growth. Alongside Sinha, Industry and Tourism Minister Nitish Mishra and Dr. S. Siddharth, ACS, Education Department, and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, were present as special guests.

During the event, a book titled Artificial Intelligence and Law, authored by Dr. Nikhil Naren, Assistant Professor at Jindal Global Law School and a native of Bihar, was released by the Deputy Chief Minister. The summit featured four technical sessions where industry leaders and domain experts discussed key topics such as tech-driven entrepreneurship, EdTech, skill development, and building digital infrastructure for Bihar’s future.

Nitish Mishra, Industry and Tourism Minister, spoke about the state’s efforts to revive its industries, noting that technology and entrepreneurship were central to these efforts. He expressed optimism that the tech leaders present at the summit would see the potential for investment in Bihar and contribute to its economic revival.

GTRi curator Aditi Nandan welcomed the participants and outlined the summit’s objective of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. He highlighted the importance of using technology to drive qualitative improvement in Bihar’s economy, with the summit serving as a platform for meaningful dialogue on these critical issues.

Aditi Nandan also shared GTRi’s achievements over the past three years, noting that the platform has drawn over 100 leading companies and more than 35 CEOs and founders of Bihari origin to the state. GTRi has facilitated investment commitments of over ₹12,000 crores and organized visits for business leaders to explore Bihar’s business ecosystem and tourism potential. The initiative has successfully promoted long-term partnerships and contributed to the state’s economic growth.

In addition, GTRi’s event Pangat highlighted Bihari culinary heritage by bringing world-renowned chefs, many with roots in Bihar, to create the first-ever Bihari Thali. This initiative gained international recognition, with chefs from India, Australia, the USA, England, and Europe participating in promoting Bihar’s forgotten cuisine.