Kerala Startup Mission To Host 11th IEDC Summit On September 28

Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) will organise the 11th Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (IEDC) Summit on September 28 at Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology in Kodakara, Thrissur, highlighting the state’s growing student innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Themed ‘Innovation Beyond the Future’, IEDC Summit 2026 is being billed as Asia’s largest student-led startup and innovation summit. The event will bring together students, aspiring entrepreneurs, startup founders, investors, industry professionals, mentors and innovators on a common platform to exchange ideas and explore new opportunities.

The summit is expected to draw more than 10,000 attendees, providing participants with opportunities to showcase emerging ventures, share knowledge and build meaningful connections within the startup ecosystem.

Industries, IT and AI Minister P K Kunhalikutty will inaugurate the summit on September 28. Ahead of the event, KSUM will organise a state-level meeting of district cluster coordinators of IEDCs on September 26 to set the context for the summit. Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Higher Education Minister Roji M John are expected to attend the meeting.

The summit will showcase the scale of Kerala’s IEDC network, which comprises 601 IEDCs across 14 districts and 14 clusters. The ecosystem is supported by more than 1,000 nodal officers, 4,000 student leads, 40 WINGS and NEST members, 250 startups and over 5,000 ideas.

More than 70 speakers, along with innovators and industry stakeholders, are expected to participate in the summit. Workshops will provide students with practical exposure to entrepreneurship, emerging technologies, creative thinking and startup building. Sessions will cater to participants at different skill levels, including those without prior entrepreneurial experience.

The summit will also offer students and innovators an opportunity to showcase their startups, projects and ideas, receive feedback from experts, and connect with founders, investors, mentors and peers.

On September 29, KSUM, in collaboration with the Kerala State Higher Education Council, will host the Higher Education Innovation Leaders and Nodal Officers Conclave. The conclave will focus on integrating innovation and entrepreneurship into higher education institutions and academic curricula.

IEDC Summit 2026 is open to students and aspiring innovators interested in entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.