The Department of Biotechnology organized an online guest lecture on the topic “Innovation Culture: Blending Design Thinking into Entrepreneurship” on 30th August 2025. The lecture, conducted on Microsoft Teams, witnessed enthusiastic participation from both students and faculty members. The resource person for the session was Mrs. Chandrika Murali, Associate Lead – Investment, Sathyabama Technology Business Incubation Centre, Chennai.
The speaker began the session by distinguishing between innovation and invention, emphasizing that while invention refers to the creation of something new, innovation lies in adding value and solving real-world problems. She further elaborated on the concepts of startups and entrepreneurs, highlighting their crucial role in societal progress and economic development.
A key highlight of the lecture was the explanation of Design Thinking as a structured yet creative approach to problem-solving. Using a pictorial representation, the speaker illustrated the various stages of design thinking, making the concept relatable and engaging for the audience. She also introduced the Empathy Map, a tool to understand customer perspectives, which enables entrepreneurs to design solutions that are more impactful and user-centric.
Outcomes of the Event:
Gained insights into the role of startups and entrepreneurs in driving innovation.
Learned the fundamentals of design thinking and its stages through pictorial representation.
Understood how to apply the Empathy Map to identify customer needs and perspectives.
Realized the importance of cultivating an innovation-driven mindset for future career growth.
The lecture was highly interactive, with participants actively engaging in discussions and raising thoughtful questions. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Kamalesh, 3rd year Biotechnology, who expressed gratitude to the distinguished speaker for her valuable insights and to the department for organizing such a thought-provoking session.
