Oil India Limited served as the anchor PSU for the MC² + Ignite Outreach Programme centred on the theme “Start-Up Ecosystem in the Northeast Region”. The event brought together startups, students, entrepreneurs, policymakers, industry leaders and academic institutions to explore pathways to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.

Calling for a stronger and more collaborative innovation ecosystem in the Northeast, Chief Minister of Assam Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the growing potential of entrepreneurship and technology-led innovation to drive economic growth and create new opportunities for the region.

The programme also featured participation of Dr Ravi Kota IAS, Chief Secretary, Government of Assam; Dr Ranjit Rath, CMD, OIL; Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati; Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Institute Professor IIT Madras; Bhaskar Jyoti Phukan, MD, NRL; Sandeep Maheshwari, CEO, MC² Foundation; Dr Jeevan Basavaraj IAS Secretary, Department of Innovation and Startups, Government of Assam, and several other distinguished leaders.

The event provided a platform for emerging enterprises from the Northeast to engage with leading public-sector organisations and ecosystem stakeholders, with discussions focusing on technology development, industry collaboration, funding, deployment and opportunities to scale innovative solutions. The list of over 1,500 registrations included more than 100 startups and approximately 1,000 students, underscoring the growing interest in the startup ecosystem among young innovators and entrepreneurs.