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Amsterdam, Mar 26:  TPV Technology – the world’s leading supplier of displays and the tech giant behind TP Vision, MMD Monitors and Displays, and AOC, together with PPDS – has further strengthened its global commitment to social sustainability and the human rights of workers by partnering with leading not for profit organisations The Mekong Club and the EPRM.

Continuing to meet the requirements of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), these new memberships, focused on social sustainability and human rights, form part of TPV Technology’s unwavering, long held, and deeply ingrained commitment to people, communities, and the planet – a philosophy shared across all business units.

Stefan van Sabben, Global Director of CSR and Sustainability at TPV Technology, commented: “We are a production oriented organisation with a worldwide network of locations and suppliers. Our responsibility focuses not only on our own sphere of influence but also on processes further down the supply chain. We believe in working both as a community and as a part of communities to amplify our efforts. That is certainly the case with our social responsibility.”

Joining forces for good

Founded in 2011 in Hong Kong, The Mekong Club is a leading not for profit organisation that works together with member companies to combat modern slavery, forced labour, and human trafficking. 

Recognised and respected globally, its members span multiple industries, including manufacturing, finance, and hospitality, reflecting a shared determination to drive meaningful change. Members include renowned global brands, including Mattel, Decathlon, Unilever, Amazon, and The Walt Disney Company.

Membership provides access to expert guidance, practical tools, and a network of like minded organisations committed to addressing these complex challenges.

Commenting on the new membership, Stefan commented: “We strictly prohibit all forms of forced labour and modern slavery in both our own operations and in our supply chains. Membership of the Mekong Club will help us ensure forced labour is never used in the scope of our business.”

He continued: “To address modern slavery challenges across sectors and industries, collaboration with other organisations is key. We look forward to collaborating with The Mekong Club and fellow members to deepen our knowledge and to exchange ideas and learnings with other businesses that are serious about making a difference.”

TP Vision, MMD Monitors and Displays, AOC, and PPDS rigorously follow the human rights and labour standards set by the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA).

Ethical sourcing of materials

Meanwhile, the European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM) concentrates on human rights and environmental challenges linked to mineral extraction and processing, an area at the very start of TPV Technology’s supply chains.

Set up in 2016, key areas of focus for the ERPM include artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) in conflict affected and high risk areas.

By bringing together companies, governments, and civil society organisations, the EPRM works to improve working conditions and environmental practices. It also promotes responsible sourcing of key minerals such as tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold. Through on the ground projects and collaborative support, the initiative helps supply chain participants strengthen their responsible sourcing practices.

Members include blue chip organisations such as Royal Philips, NXP, Samsung, Intel, and Fairphone, as well as other supply chain actors, such as Valcambi (a refiner), Gold by Gold Colombia (a gold purchaser and trader), and the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI – of which TPV is also a member). Civil society members include Solidaridad, Terre des hommes, and Pact.

TPV Technology publishes an annual Conflict Minerals report that outlines its commitment, policy and procedures regarding the responsible sourcing of minerals, with the company committed to not purchasing raw materials, subassemblies or supplies that are known to contain conflict minerals that directly or indirectly finance or benefit armed groups in the DRC or other CAHRAs (conflict affected and high risk areas).

Furthermore, the company has been a member of the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) since 2015 and a member of the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative (ITSCI) since early 2023. Since December 2023 – and recently renewed for another three years – it has actively funded and supported ITSCI’s responsible and inclusive mining governance projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Marcella Klinker, Sustainability Specialist – Human Rights and Supply Chains at TPV Technology, said: “For us at TPV Technology, joining the EPRM reinforces our commitment to responsibly sourcing the minerals used in our products and continuously strengthening our mineral due diligence practices. We look forward to collaborating with the EPRM and other members on developing innovative partnerships and initiatives that enhance due diligence practices and support more responsible mineral supply chains.”

 

India’s economy is on track to sustain robust growth in the coming financial year, with GDP expected to remain above 7% in FY27, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham). This strong performance is being fueled by resilient domestic consumption and continued investment across sectors.

Pic Credit: Pexel

As per Assocham, India’s GDP is projected to expand by approximately 7.6% in FY26, maintaining the country’s position as one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world. “India’s growth trajectory remains healthy, with domestic demand and investment continuing to drive economic activity,” said Nirmal K Minda, president of the industry body.

Despite global uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, India’s economy is demonstrating remarkable resilience. Analysts point to strong consumption trends, rising infrastructure investment, and steady industrial output as key factors supporting sustained growth.

This optimistic outlook underscores India’s potential to not only weather global economic challenges but also to attract more business, investment, and innovation domestically. With continued policy support and a large, dynamic consumer base, the country is poised for sustained economic expansion in the years ahead.

Hyderabad, Mar 27: AIC-IIITH Foundation, the social tech incubator of IIIT Hyderabad, in partnership with EPAM Systems, has selected 6 high-impact GreenTech startups for its 4th cohort for the Akash EPAM Social Impact Innovation Program (ESIIP). Following a rigorous selection process, 11 applicants out of 130+ national applicants pitched to a distinguished jury, with 6 ventures selected for their potential to advance India’s UN SDG commitments focused on Climate Action (SDG 13).

By bridging the gap between academic research and market-ready innovation, the program empowers startups to solve critical environmental challenges in sectors like Green Energy, Circularity and Climate Action. It offers a comprehensive growth platform, including a ₹5 lakh grant, access to IIITH labs, faculty and the Smart City Lab Test Bed for validation, along with mentorship and business coaching from EPAM experts and industry veterans to refine models for large-scale social impact.

“The 4th edition of ESIIP comes at a critical juncture where the demand for sustainable, tech-driven solutions has never been higher,” said Ramesh Loganathan, Director of AIC-IIITH. “This program provides a timely platform for startups to refine their research and scale innovations that directly address India’s climate and environmental priorities,” added Prof. Loganathan.

The startups selected for this cohort represent the cutting edge of “Tech-for-Good,” moving beyond basic service models to offer deep-tech solutions with massive environmental potential. With innovations such as wall-climbing autonomous rovers, leveraging of Digital Twins, IoT, and Data, carbon capture and cement-free construction materials, these startups provide scalable climate solutions.

The selection process featured a diverse jury of 14 experts from IIITH, Google, EPAM Systems Inc., Corteva, Carrier, Sonoco India, United Way Hyderabad, Caspian, MuddleArt and Edventure Park. This multidisciplinary panel ensured that startups were evaluated not just for financial viability, but for technical rigor and their ability to solve complex sustainability problems.

“At EPAM, our commitment to social impact innovation is grounded in the belief that meaningful change comes from collaboration, responsibility and sustained action. We work closely with startups, communities and ecosystem partners to nurture ideas that address real-world challenges: whether it is climate-focused programs, startup ecosystem support or digital skills and literacy. Our focus is on enabling such kind of initiatives so they deliver tangible, long-term value where it matters most.” – Srinivas Reddy, SVP (Senior Vice President) and Head of EPAM India.

 

 

 

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India’s aviation sector is gaining fresh momentum as global aircraft makers deepen their engagement with the country’s growing market.

Leading aerospace companies Airbus and Embraer are expanding their “Make in India” plans, encouraged by rising demand for regional air travel. This demand is being driven in part by the UDAN Scheme, which has improved connectivity across smaller cities and towns.

Pic Credit: https://x.com/PMOIndia

The increase in regional routes has created a strong need for smaller, fuel-efficient aircraft, prompting manufacturers to look beyond sales and toward long-term investments in India. Both companies are exploring deeper partnerships with local suppliers, with potential plans for assembly lines and expanded manufacturing operations.

These developments reflect a broader shift in India’s aviation landscape—from being primarily a buyer of aircraft to becoming a key player in the global aerospace supply chain. With supportive policies, a growing domestic market, and a skilled workforce, India is positioning itself as an emerging hub for aviation manufacturing.

As investments gather pace, the country’s aviation ambitions are steadily moving from runway to reality.

New Delhi, Mar 27: The Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Committee of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) organised a one-day training programme on “Using AI for Productivity: A Practical Guide” at PHD House, New Delhi. The workshop aimed to empower students from diverse academic backgrounds including arts, commerce, law, management and humanities with practical knowledge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

 The workshop was designed to simplify AI concepts and enable participants to integrate AI into their daily academic and professional tasks. It focused on building foundational understanding, enhancing productivity, and encouraging ethical and responsible use of AI.

The sessions were conducted by distinguished resource persons including Prof. Manikant Roy, Ph.D. Candidate, IIT Delhi and Assistant Professor – Business Analytics, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, Prof. Poonam Goyal, Chair Professor, Computer Science & Information Systems, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, and Mr. Sanjay Kumar Suri, Founding Partner & CEO, Future IT Advisory, each leading dedicated segments of the workshop.

Prof. Manikant Roy, Ph.D. Candidate, IIT Delhi and Assistant Professor – Business Analytics, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, conducted sessions on practical AI tools such as Google Gemini and NotebookLM, highlighting their applications in research, documentation, and workflow automation. He also covered prompt engineering basics and demonstrated how AI can be effectively leveraged to enhance productivity, efficiency, and decision-making.

Mr. Sanjay Kumar Suri, Founding Partner & CEO, Future IT Advisory, introduced participants to the fundamentals of AI, including its real-world applications and differences between AI, Machine Learning, and Generative AI. He also demonstrated how tools like ChatGPT can be effectively used for tasks such as summarisation, research, and content creation.

Prof. Poonam Goyal, Chair Professor, Computer Science & Information Systems, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus, delivered a session on “Computer Vision to Multimodal Understanding: Models, Fusion Strategies, and Applications”, providing insights into evolving AI capabilities and their real-world applications. She introduced participants to how advanced AI models integrate multiple data types and highlighted key strategies and use-cases in this domain.

Mr. Sumit Bhatnagar, General Manager & Head of Presales (India), Newgen Software, representing the partner organisation, highlighted that many individuals are still unable to fully visualize the practical applications of emerging technologies. He emphasized that AI is increasingly enabling data-driven decision-making by leveraging insights from past data, and encouraged participants to actively adopt and implement the learnings shared by the panelists in their respective domains.

The workshop also included hands-on activities, enabling participants to apply concepts such as writing effective prompts, verifying AI-generated responses, and building personal productivity workflows using AI tools.

The programme witnessed participation from around 100 students, including those from leading institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), and Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (IILM), reflecting strong interest in AI-driven productivity tools and future-ready skill development.