NED 2026

6 8
February 2026

A dialogue that blends global perspectives with national impact

Redefining INDIA's Progressive Roadmap

Tracks @NED 2026

Strengthening Digital
Frontiers

Data, Tech & Digital Economy

Trade Winds of Change: Strategies for an Evolving World

Geopolitics & Deglobalization

Closing the Loop: Strategies for Sustainable Growth

Resource Efficiency & Circularity

Growth for All: Strategies for Equitable Progress

Inclusive Growth

Hackathon

Nilgiris Impact Challenge 2026

A District-Governed Innovation Hackathon

As part of NED 2026, CII in collaboration with the Nilgiris District Administration is organizing the Nilgiris Impact Challenge 2026—a district-governed, solution-oriented innovation hackathon led by the Nilgiris District Collectorate. The challenge aims to engage young innovators in developing practical and scalable solutions to address key developmental challenges of the Nilgiris district.

Institutions are invited to participate by nominating five high-potential students (UG/PG/Doctoral) from diverse disciplines. Participants will collaborate in Coimbatore during the first week of February 2026, with shortlisted teams presenting their solutions at NED 2026 in Ooty. All participants will receive certificates co-signed by the District Collector and CII, and all related expenses will be borne by CII.

  • Eligibility: UG / PG / Doctoral Students
  • Team Size: 5 Students per Institution
  • Disciplines: Open to All Streams
  • Location: Coimbatore → Ooty
Nominate Your Institution

Limited nominations | High-impact exposure

Track 2 – PitchFest

PitchFest is designed for teams with proven solutions, demonstrable prototypes, deployable innovations, startups, or university-led projects that address challenges relevant to the Nilgiris context

Since 2024

A RUNDOWN OF TWO YEARS OF SUCCESS

A 3-Day platform uniting brilliant minds from across India to drive nation-building conversations and intellectual exchanges.


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Hours of discourse &
deliberation

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Participants

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Sessions on national &
global relevance

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Speakers of
distinguished repute


Thought Leaders Council

R Dinesh

R Dinesh

Past President, CII

Thomas John Muthoot

Thomas John Muthoot

Chairman, CII SR & CMD, Muthoot Fincorp Ltd.

Kamal Bali

Kamal Bali

Past Chairman, CII SR & MD, Volvo Group

CK Ranganathan

CK Ranganathan

MD, CavinKare

Soumya Swaminathan

Soumya Swaminathan

Former WHO Chief Scientist

Pankaj Saran

Pankaj Saran

Former Dy National Security Advisor

Dr C Rajamohan

Dr C Rajamohan

Indian Columnist

Akshaya Mangala

Akshaya Mangala

Advisor, Oxford India Forum

Steering Committee 2026



Shankar Vanaavarayar
Chair, NED 2026 & Past Chair, CII TN State Council


Ravi Purushotham
Deputy Chairman, CII Coimbatore Zone


Nandini R
Chairperson, CII Coimbatore


AR Unnikrishnan
Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu & Managing Director - Glass Group, Saint Gobain India Pvt. Ltd.


C Devarajan
Vice Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu & Chairman & Managing Director, URC Construction Pvt. Ltd.


Arun Rathod
National Vice Chairman, Young Indians & Director, Flosil Group of Companies


Gowri Kailasam
Chairperson, IWN Southern Region & Chief Executive Officer, Rane Madras Ltd


Murali Krishna
Chairman, CII Andhra Pradesh & Managing Director, Fluentgrid Limited


Rabindra Srikant
Chairman, CII Karnataka & Managing Director , ASM Technologies Ltd


VKC Razak
Chairman, CII Kerala & CMD, Veekesy Footgear Pvt. Ltd


Samir Kamra
Chairman, CII Puducherry & CEO, Kosh Innovations


Mr R S Reddy
Chairman, CII Telangana & Managing Director,Rachamallu Forgings Pvt. Ltd


N K Ranganath
Past Chairman,CII Tamil Nadu & Director, Strategy Catalysts Pvt Ltd


Srivats Ram
Immediate Past Chairman, CII Tamil Nadu & Managing Director, Wheels India Ltd


Ramesh Ramadurai
Past Chairman,CII Karnataka & Managing Director, 3M India Ltd


Vijaykrishnan Venkatesan
Past Chairman, CII Karnataka & Managing Director, Kennametal India Ltd


Muthu Murugappan
Wholetime Director & CEO, EID Parry (India) Ltd


Kezevino Aram
President, Shanti Ashram


Indrani Bagchi
Chief Executive Officer, Ananta Aspen Centre

Our Supporters 2024 & 2025

Partners

Venues

Royal Fern Hill Palace

A majestic summer palace of the Wadiyar Maharajas turned heritage hotel, set amidst 50 acres of lush Nilgiri tea estates and nostalgic timber-rich grandeur.

Madras Regimental Centre

The historic training home of the esteemed Madras Regiment, rooted in South Indian military tradition and committed to standards of excellence.

The Lawrence School

Perched high in the Nilgiris, this historic 1858 boarding school blends timeless heritage with holistic education amid pine-shrouded hills.

Speakers

Archives

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Why NED?

Believes in the Power of Dialogue to Inspire Change.
Bridges Industry, Government, and Civil Society for Collective Progress.
Blends Global perspectives with Local impact to shape India’s role in the Emerging World Order.
Boasts participant diversity with pride.
Brings together CXOs and decision makers to drive tangible growth.

Testimonials


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R Gopalakrishnan
Author & Business Commentator

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Tarsh Thekaekara
The Real Elephant Collective

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Tamil Nadu Technology Hub

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Craigmore Plantations (India) Pvt Ltd

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Giridharan Ramasubramanian
Ramco

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Aarti B Iyer
Cyan Agro

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Akhila Rajeshwar
TiE Chennai

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Archana Chavan
Mentor Together

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Avanti Natarajan
Paavai Educational Institutions

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B C Datta
Ola Electric Technologies Pvt Ltd

"Excellently curated, well-crafted dialogue of diverse intellectuals... feel lucky to have been here."

Deepesh Chandrashekharan
Kumaraguru College of Liberal Arts and Science

"Beautiful initiative... meeting stalwarts from diverse backgrounds... a well organized 'Human Library' experience."

Durgesh Nandhini
Raw Vegan Chef & TEDx Speaker

"Two days of exciting discussions... a lifetime experience to cherish with a lot of networking opportunities."

G Aravind
CII Erode Zone & RKG Ghee

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Jayaprashanth Jayachandran
Trinetra Wireless & Angler Technologies

"Excellent planning and execution. Very well thought of topics... exchange of ideas for the betterment of a future."

J Kanchana
PSG Institute of Advanced Studies

"Dialogues like these contribute at large to the RAISING BHARATH story. It was organised with experts, policy makers and defence authorities to brainstorm on new ideas."

Jothi Prasad
Co-Founder
Harvest Square

"NED 2025 has been a pleasant and enriching experience... a truly global platform comprising varied luminous leaders... truly very democratic, participatory, and inclusive."

KRS Krishnan
Director - Innovation
Karunya University

"It is also amazing to know different perspectives, connect, network for 3 days. Keep inspiring all of us."

Kirthika Shivkumar
Executive Director
The Indian Public School

"The sessions were insightful, and a great learning for me to understand varied topics starting from economy, geopolitics and leadership."

Lasya Thambidurai
Trustee
St Peter's Medical College Hospital & Research Institute

"Engaging, Networking, New Learning, Unlearning and Relearning: A wonderful initiative by CII... The Best start of the year."

Maria Williams
Dean
Sri Krishna Arts & Science College

"Today, when I am leaving... I am a different person. Dialogues like these can be life-changing... Powerful!"

Mirza Jahanzeb Beg
Author
N/A

"NED has been an eye opener. Exposed me to a lot of varied topics. Had good networking with participants from non-CII organisations."

RV Chari
Managing Director
GH Induction India Pvt Ltd

"A wonderful experience... that has brought about dialogues that will shape the future while opening my mind for further thought and action."

Rajavel Sundararajan
Co-Founder & CEO
The Art Brew

"Intellectually stimulating discussions with an assembly of stellar speakers... bringing together multiple perspectives and opinions that are so useful for policy making."

S Raghupathy
Director - Strategic Planning & Review
Kumaraguru Institutions

"Real dialogue that made the possibility to learn newer perspectives in an intellectually stimulating environment. Thoughts exchanged are very rare to get otherwise."

Satchithananda Valan Michael
Head of Field Office
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

"NED continues to fascinate and inspire industry leaders... NED has caught on and has the full potential to become a national dialogue."

Savitha Kesav Jagadeesan
Senior Resident Partner
Kochhar & Co

"NED is a wonderful platform to meet, discuss and fix various societal issues. This stakeholders dialogue will spark new solutions for India to become a global socio-economic leader."

Senthil Kumar Natesan
Vice Chairman / COO & Designated Partner
CII Salem Zone / Global Lab Consultancy Services LLP

"The dialogue was certainly an eye-opener... CII has done a commendable job by bringing together so many experts from so many fields to pave the way for a better future."

Sharath Nambiar
Director
DakshinaChitra Museum

"The high intent action-takers who were here part of the dialogue were not just amazing business folks but wonderful humans to learn, share and grow with."

Sudharsan Varatharajan
CEO & Co-Founder
Bversity

"This is my second time... Thought provoking discussions on data and its possibilities for India story, the climate challenge and de-globalisation... Nilgiris has left us in awe!"

T Kumaravel
Director
V Thangavel & Sons Pvt Ltd

"Diversified topics, erudite speakers, truly dialogue type event, enlightening takeaways."

T Thyagarajan
Pro-Vice Chancellor
Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai

"The NED brought diverse personalities with varied perspectives for various issues... for a deeper understanding of economic challenges."

V Srividya
Director / Professor
PSG Institute of Management

"It was a great pleasure attending. I felt that it has a lot of potential and what I have taken back from this will definitely enrich me."

Vijay Prabhu
Mentor
Littleearth Group

"Very well curated one that has given different perspectives to carry back and look at business differently."

Yamini Rajendran
HR-Head
Velmurugan Heavy Engineering Industries Pvt Ltd
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