ISB forum: Azim Premji honoured with research catalyst award

The third edition of ISB’s Insights Forum was held on the Mohali campus, where leaders from academia, industry, government, and philanthropy engaged in discussions aimed at creating actionable research agendas and addressing critical issues facing India and the global community. The forum provides a platform to highlight research that is shaping management thinking and to strengthen collaboration between researchers and industry practitioners.

Professor Karthik Muralidharan, Tata Chancellor’s Professor of Economics, University of California, San Diego, in his inaugural address, highlighted groundbreaking research insights on accelerating India’s development trajectory. According to him, evidence-based approaches coupled with technology can unlock India’s immense potential, particularly in agricultural development, education and public finance. He emphasised that governments need to recognise the private sector as an ally rather than competition, partnering with private providers to improve service delivery.

Prof Muralidharan stressed that high-quality research drives transformative policy changes, with data-driven interventions yielding returns 10 times higher than simply increasing budgets. He concluded that systematic evidence gathering provides the foundation for designing policies that can dramatically shift India’s development curve, creating both equity and efficiency gains.

Professor Madan Pillutla, Dean, ISB, explained that the forum was born out of a critical need to bridge the gap in the dissemination of academic research in policy and industry circles. He also expressed delight at the forum’s remarkable growth and the rising level of participation. The dean highlighted his vision for the forum to serve as a platform that enables actionable dialogue between academics, policymakers, and corporates, fostering the partnerships India needs to drive positive change and achieve large-scale impact.

Professor Sarang Deo, Deputy Dean, Faculty and Research, and Executive Director, Max Institute of Healthcare Management (MIHM), ISB, encouraged participants to explore topics beyond their daily expertise, noting that research is fundamentally about learning with an open mind. He suggested participants should reflect on three key outcomes: discovering something interesting they didn’t know, having a belief overturned by evidence, and developing new questions to explore. Professor Deo highlighted that the forum represents the beginning of an ongoing journey of inquiry and discovery.

The ISB forum featured a rich and diverse line-up of discussions, ranging from the role of data science and digital technologies in healthcare administration to the evolving landscape of climate impacts, climate action, and climate justice. The programme also included insights into wealth creation through capital markets with a focus on retail investors, a forward-looking session on Digital Gold, and a thought-provoking dialogue on the role of CSR in advancing higher education and research. The forum also included a virtual special address by Dr Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO, AnusandhanNational Research Foundation (ANRF).