5 days CPS Training, Skilling and Enabling Startups: Uttarakhand THRIVE Summit held at Uttarakhand by iHub-AWadh at IIT Ropar in collaboration with Runway Incubator. On March 5th, a masterclass on Startup Compliance, conducted by Nucleus Advisors, provided startups with critical insights into legal and regulatory frameworks. The session, led by experts including CA Pravesh Goel, CA Ashish Gupta, CA Abhishek Gupta, and CS Neha Rathore, covered topics like company incorporation, tax compliance (including GST), intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, and copyrights), and financial regulations. They detailed various business structures like Private Limited Companies and LLPs, and stressed the importance of documentation and financial records for credibility and attracting investors. The experts also highlighted how proactive compliance, including adhering to labor laws and tax filings, is essential to avoid penalties and operational hurdles. The masterclass, with its interactive Q&A format, served as an invaluable guide, empowering startups to effectively navigate the complex regulatory landscape and gain a competitive advantage. The session emphasized that a strong commitment to legal obligations is a key factor that investors prioritize when considering funding.
On Day 2 of the Uttarakhand Thrive Summit, startups delved into the burgeoning Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) ecosystem. The session highlighted how iHub AWaDH, supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), is a key incubator providing crucial resources like seed funding, research labs, and expert mentorship. Mukesh Kestwal, the Chief Innovation Officer, led an insightful discussion on the latest advancements and opportunities in CPS. The workshop’s focus was on transforming innovative ideas in intelligent automation and robotics into impactful solutions. This unique event, running parallel to the Uttarakhand Thrive Startup Summit, also offered participants invaluable networking opportunities and exposure to emerging startup trends. This synergy between the workshop and the summit helped accelerate ventures and bridge the gap between research and commercialization.
On March 11, Day 3 of the Uttarakhand THRIVE Summit, participants attended an online session on “Emerging Trends in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)”. The session was expertly conducted by Dr. Vinay Chowdary, a Global Professor of Practice at Golden Gate University. He provided a comprehensive overview of the intersection of CPS with AI, IoT, and edge computing, and discussed their transformative impact on sectors such as healthcare and smart cities. Dr. Chowdary focused on the entrepreneurial potential within CPS, offering practical insights and real-world examples to help startups leverage these technologies for a competitive edge. He also discussed the importance of system integration, cybersecurity, and regulatory challenges. The session concluded with a discussion on emerging investment opportunities, empowering attendees to navigate this rapidly evolving technological landscape and contribute to the next wave of digital transformation.
On March 12, Day 4 of the workshop on CPS Training, Skilling, and Enabling Startups featured an in-depth session on “Sensor Technology and Embedded Systems”. Led by Dr. Sunil Semwal, Dean of Research & Development at Tula’s Institute, the session explored how sensors act as the backbone of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), enabling real-time data collection for diverse industries like healthcare and smart cities.
Dr. Semwal detailed the integration of CPS with existing infrastructure, highlighting embedded system architectures and the importance of optimizing hardware and software. A significant portion of the session was dedicated to cybersecurity, addressing vulnerabilities in sensor networks and discussing security protocols. He also provided guidance on scaling CPS solutions for startups, offering insights into funding and market adoption strategies. The interactive session concluded with a Q&A, reinforcing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to build robust CPS technologies.
On March 13, the final day of the workshop on CPS Training, Skilling, and Enabling Startups at the Uttarakhand THRIVE Summit, Mr. Bhupal Arya, a leading cybersecurity expert, conducted a comprehensive session on “Cyber Forensics and Email Forensics.”
Mr. Arya highlighted the growing vulnerability of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) to cyber threats and emphasized the crucial role of forensic investigations. He provided an overview of methodologies like data acquisition, network analysis, and malware detection, and introduced essential forensic tools such as Autopsy and Wireshark.
A key focus was email forensics, where he explained how to trace email headers and identify phishing attacks. He stressed the importance of protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for preventing email-based threats. Mr. Arya concluded by providing startups with actionable security strategies, including regular vulnerability assessments and leveraging AI-driven threat intelligence. The session equipped attendees with practical knowledge to fortify their cybersecurity defenses.
With a robust network of investors, policymakers, and industry leaders, IIT Ropar’s incubation initiatives, in collaboration with Runway Incubator, foster an environment where CPS startups can thrive. The focus on interdisciplinary research and innovation-driven entrepreneurship ensures that startups working on intelligent automation, robotics, and connected systems find the necessary resources to transform their ideas into impactful solutions. By bridging the gap between research and commercialization, AWaDH and Runway Incubator are shaping the future of Cyber-Physical Systems, empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs to drive technological advancements in India and beyond