IEDC Summit 2026: Sahrdaya college in Keralam’s Thrissur to host student entrepreneurship meet

The IEDC (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre) Summit 2026, one of Asia’s largest student and youth entrepreneurship gatherings, will commence at Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology, Kodakara, Thrissur, on Monday (September 28, 2026).

P.K. Kunhalikutty, Minister for Industries, IT and AI, will inaugurate the two-day summit at 11 a.m.

The summit, organised around the theme ‘Innovation Beyond the Future’, will bring together more than 5,000 youngsters, students, entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders.

Participants from 601 IEDCs functioning across 14 clusters in Keralam’s 14 districts, along with more than 1,000 nodal officers, over 4,000 student leads and more than 250 start-ups, will turn up for the event. More than 5,000 new ideas are expected to be pitched during the sessions, steered by over 70 experts from different fields.

“In an era of rapid technological transformation, the IEDC initiative serves as a cornerstone in nurturing industry-ready students and fostering the creation of cutting-edge, technology-driven enterprises,” said KSUM CEO Anoop Ambika.

Entrepreneurial culture

The Higher Education Innovation Leaders and Nodal Officers Conclave, jointly organised by KSUM and the Kerala State Higher Education Council, will be held on September 29. The conclave aims to promote an entrepreneurial culture in higher education institutions and academic curricula.

The IEDC Summit seeks to provide students with practical knowledge about the start-up ecosystem. Workshops, expert-led panel discussions, learning stations and networking sessions have been planned for students, including those with no prior experience in the field.

The summit will also provide students with an opportunity to showcase their projects, ideas and start-ups and interact directly with industry leaders and investors for guidance. It will serve as a platform for those aspiring to start ventures and develop innovative ideas to showcase their skills.