Paavai Educational Institutions, through the Paavai Innovation Forum (PIF), organised PAAVAI TECHNOVA’26 – Engineering the Technologies of Tomorrow, a one-day, 100% technology-focused Technology & Startup Extravaganza at the Paavai Educational Institutions campus, Namakkal.
The event brought together industry leaders, technology experts, startups, student innovators, faculty members and technology enthusiasts on a common platform to experience emerging technologies, exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The programme was inaugurated in the presence of Dr. R. Velusamy, President – Automotive Business, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., and Managing Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited, who was the Chief Guest. He also serves as Chairman of Mahindra Racing UK and Member of the Group Executive Board of Mahindra & Mahindra.
Technology & Startup Showcase
A major attraction of TECHNOVA’26 was the Technology & Startup Showcase, featuring innovations from Paavai Institutions and technology-driven startups. The showcase provided an opportunity for participants to see working products and prototypes, interact directly with innovators and understand the journey from technology development to application.
Dr. Velusamy visited the showcase even before the formal inauguration and showed keen interest in several innovations. He appreciated the efforts of the startups and young innovators and interacted closely with the teams.
Of particular interest was a wearable gesture-control glove startup prototype developed by three young innovators. Dr. Velusamy explored its potential application in autonomous vehicles and encouraged the innovators to submit their resumes for possible recruitment opportunities with Mahindra. His interaction demonstrated how a technology showcase can create direct pathways between student innovation and industry opportunity.
Chief Guest’s Technical Session
Dr. Velusamy delivered the opening technical session, “The Electric & Autonomous Future – EV, Automotive Electronics & Intelligent Mobility.”
Drawing from his extensive experience in the automotive industry, he shared perspectives on the evolution of electric mobility, automotive technologies and battery technologies. He also discussed the changing global technology landscape and the competitiveness of China in advanced battery and automotive technologies.
His session highlighted the importance of developing advanced technologies in India and building capabilities that enable the country not merely to adopt global technologies, but to create and compete with them.
AI, Robotics and Autonomous Systems
The second technical session, “Intelligence in Action – AI, Robotics & Autonomous Systems,” was delivered by Ms. Bharathi Subramanian, CEO & Founder, Tamopahaa Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
The session explored the growing role of artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous systems and technology integration in solving real-world problems. Students had the opportunity to understand how multiple technologies can be combined to develop practical and application-oriented solutions.
Semiconductors, Embedded Systems and Edge Computing
The third technical session, “From Chip to Intelligence – Semiconductors, Embedded Systems & Edge Computing,” was delivered by Mr. Sridharan Venkatraman, Associate Vice President, GlobalLogic.
The session provided participants with insights into the semiconductor and embedded technology ecosystem and the growing importance of edge computing in intelligent products and connected systems.
From Ideas to Impact
The afternoon featured a panel discussion titled “From Innovation to Enterprise – What Does It Take to Scale?”, under the session theme “From Ideas to Impact.”
The discussion was moderated by Dhanush, Founder, MARABANU, and brought together perspectives from the startup, industry, and legal/regulatory ecosystem.
The panel examined the journey from an initial idea to a commercially viable enterprise, including market relevance, technology validation, business strategy, legal and regulatory considerations, partnerships, investment readiness and scaling.
The audience also had an opportunity to interact directly with the panellists through an audience Q&A session.
Beyond the Podium
One of the distinctive features of TECHNOVA’26 was “Beyond the Podium – In Conversation with Dr. R. Velusamy,” which provided students an informal opportunity to interact directly with the Chief Guest.
Students raised questions covering career journeys, engineering, leadership, innovation, success and the qualities required to grow in the industry. Dr. Velusamy also shared experiences from his early childhood and spoke about the courage required to pursue one’s aspirations.
Addressing young women in particular, he encouraged them to recognise their full potential and have the courage to navigate their way to the top.
He also shared a memorable analogy involving the moringa and tamarind trees, referring to the Tamil saying “Pudichalum Pulian Kombai Pudikanum,” conveying the importance of having the strength and consistency to hold firm while continuing to move forward.
EV Centre of Excellence
A significant outcome of the event was Dr. Velusamy’s positive response to the proposal for establishing an EV Centre of Excellence at Paavai. The proposed initiative is expected to create opportunities for students and faculty to gain deeper exposure to electric vehicle technologies, industry practices, hands-on learning and innovation in the rapidly evolving mobility sector.
A Platform for Technology and Innovation
TECHNOVA’26 brought together technology showcases, startups, expert technical sessions, student innovation and industry interaction under one platform. The event enabled students to move beyond classroom learning and engage directly with professionals working at the forefront of emerging technologies.
The programme also provided startups with an opportunity to demonstrate their technologies, interact with potential users and industry representatives, and explore avenues for collaboration.
The event concluded with a strong emphasis on the need for industry–academia collaboration, technology-driven innovation and nurturing young talent capable of developing solutions for the future.
Through TECHNOVA’26, Paavai Innovation Forum reaffirmed its commitment to creating an ecosystem where technology is experienced, innovation is encouraged, and young minds are connected with industry and real-world opportunities.
“Innovate. Collaborate. Transform.”
