Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, joined the 7th Convocation of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Goa as the Chief Guest on 19 July 2026. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Anand Deshpande, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director of Persistent Systems Ltd.; Mr. Adil Siraj Zainulbhai, Chairman of the Board of Governors, IIT Goa; and Prof. Dhirendra S. Katti, Director, IIT Goa.   Reflecting on India's rapidly evolving innovation landscape, Prof. Sood lauded Skyroot Aerospace for the successful launch of Vikram-1, India's first private-sector orbital launch vehicle. He noted that the average age of the Skyroot team is just 28 years, describing the achievement as a testament to the aspirations, talent, and capabilities of India's young innovators.   Highlighting the country's scientific and technological progress, he pointed to India's significant advances in renewable energy, particularly in wind and hydropower, while identifying energy storage as one of the nation's most critical technological challenges and opportunities. He also observed that India is now home to approximately 2.4 lakh startups and over 120 unicorns, while emphasizing the need to expand the country's deep-tech startup ecosystem, which currently accounts for about 12% of all startups.   Prof. Sood further highlighted several flagship Government of India initiatives that are strengthening research, innovation, and collaboration across academia, industry, and government. These include the National Quantum Mission, IndiaAI Mission, Startup India, the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), and the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Fund. He stressed that India must accelerate its transition from a service-driven economy to a product-led innovation economy by translating high-quality research into globally competitive technologies and products.   Appreciating IIT Goa's motto, "Vidya Vinayena Deepyate" (Knowledge shines with humility), Prof. Sood expressed confidence that the institute's upcoming permanent campus would further strengthen its contribution to science, technology, and innovation at both the national and global levels. Concluding his address, Prof. Sood urged the graduating students to uphold the IIT tradition of knowledge, humility, and innovation throughout their careers. He described true innovation as the ability to develop scalable, affordable, and impactful solutions that address real-world challenges and improve lives, encouraging the graduates to become creators of transformative change for India and the world.