Munish Sood
Mandi
The School of Management at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi successfully organized the third edition of its national-level annual industry conclave — Himalayan Business Summit (HiBS) 2026 — positioning Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a central driver of India’s next phase of business transformation.
The two-day summit brought together top corporate leaders, policymakers, technologists and management students on a common platform to deliberate on how AI is reshaping business models, leadership frameworks, productivity systems and sustainable growth strategies across Indian industry.
With a strong focus on AI-driven leadership, enhanced productivity and responsible decision-making, HiBS 2026 emerged as a high-impact knowledge exchange platform for future-ready business thinking.
National Platform for Industry-Academia Collaboration
HiBS 2026 witnessed participation from senior executives and technology leaders representing some of India’s most prominent organizations, including:
• Raymond Limited
• Kirloskar Management Service
• VDart Digital
• NDTV Profit
• Religare Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited
• Onix
• InXiteOut
• Aamrass Digimarc LLP
• DBS Bank
• Target
• SAP
• Datawise
• Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
• Vallabha Industrial Chemical Engineers Pvt Ltd
• National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO)
Industry leaders shared deep insights into the evolving role of AI in modern enterprises, highlighting how intelligent automation, predictive analytics, and data-driven decision-making are redefining leadership paradigms and operational efficiency.
The summit also served as a powerful networking and mentorship platform for management students, exposing them to emerging business strategies and real-world AI use cases across sectors.
Three Core Themes of HiBS 2026
The summit was structured around three strategic pillars:
1. Reimagining Traditional Indian Sectors through AI
Discussions focused on how AI can modernize India’s manufacturing, infrastructure, mining, metals, logistics, and MSME sectors by improving productivity, quality control, supply-chain intelligence, and predictive maintenance.
2. Leadership Strategies for AI-Driven Growth
Industry veterans emphasized the urgent need for leadership models that integrate technology, ethics, agility and innovation, enabling organizations to scale AI solutions responsibly and profitably.
3. Responsible AI as a Competitive Advantage
Experts highlighted governance frameworks, data privacy, transparency and ethical AI deployment as critical differentiators for long-term corporate sustainability.
HiBS 2026 placed special emphasis on converting AI innovation into practical, scalable and outcome-driven business value, particularly across India’s policy-driven and industrial ecosystems.
From Experimentation to Execution: A National Imperative
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Anjan Swain, Chair, School of Management, IIT Mandi, underlined India’s pivotal moment in AI adoption.
“India stands at a crucial juncture in its AI adoption journey, where the focus must shift from experimentation to effective execution for meaningful outcomes. HiBS 2026 has been designed as a platform for leaders to engage with the challenges surrounding AI and its impact on sustainable growth,” he said.
With AI increasingly influencing governance models, compliance frameworks, risk management and strategic planning, the summit explored how enterprises can bridge the gap between technology capability and business execution.
Chief Guest and Knowledge Sessions
The summit featured a keynote address by Chief Guest Mr. Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra, Director In-Charge, Bhilai Steel Plant (SAIL), who spoke on AI-driven modernization in heavy industries and the role of digital transformation in strengthening India’s manufacturing competitiveness.
Panel discussions and leadership sessions covered a wide range of topics, including:
• AI in industrial automation
• Smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0
• AI-powered finance and banking
• Digital transformation in media and communications
• Data-led marketing and consumer analytics
• Sustainability and ESG-driven technology strategies
A high-energy case competition was also conducted, allowing students to apply AI-driven business solutions to real-world industry challenges, sharpening their analytical, strategic and decision-making skills.
Building India’s Next-Generation Business Leaders
HiBS 2026 reaffirmed IIT Mandi’s growing stature as a hub for technology-driven management education and industry engagement. Through such national-level initiatives, the institute continues to strengthen its role as a thought leader in shaping India’s digital economy.
Notably, the School of Management at IIT Mandi offers a unique MBA specialization in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, launched in 2022. Over the last two years, leading companies have consistently recruited professionals from this program, reflecting strong industry confidence in the institute’s future-ready curriculum.
Driving Responsible, Scalable and Impact-Oriented AI
As India accelerates its journey toward becoming a global AI powerhouse, HiBS 2026 stood out as a timely and relevant platform fostering meaningful dialogue between academia, industry and policymakers.
By championing responsible innovation, ethical deployment and business-led execution, the Himalayan Business Summit 2026 marked a significant step toward building a resilient, technology-driven and globally competitive Indian business ecosystem.
