Jalandhar, 14.01.26; The spirit of innovation found a powerful new catalyst as the Department of Industries and Commerce, Government of Punjab, in collaboration with Lovely Professional University (LPU), hosted the ‘Startup Punjab Conclave 2026’. The conclave was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Bhagwant Mann, and was designed to ignite, empower, and equip the next generation of entrepreneurs, reinforcing Punjab’s strategic vision to emerge as a hub for innovation-led economic growth.

The conclave witnessed the distinguished presence of several eminent leaders and senior officials including, Sanjeev Arora, Hon’ble Minister for Industries and Commerce, Punjab, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Founder Chancellor of LPU Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Raj Kumar Chabbewal, MP, Hoshiarpur; Sarvjit Singh, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Sports and Youth Services, Punjab, Dr. Jaspal Singh Sandhu, Vice Chancellor, LPU, Col. Dr. Rashmi Mittal, Pro-Chancellor, LPU; Ms. Surabhi Malik, IAS, Director of Industries & Commerce-cum-State Startup Nodal Officer; Shailendra Tyagi, CEO, Neuron/STPI, Amit Kumar Panchal, IAS, DC, Kapurthala, and Gaurav Toora, IPS, SSP, Kapurthala.

Addressing the young innovators, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Bhagwant Mann remarked that Punjabis are natural entrepreneurs and innovators, adding that the state offers both policy backing and financial support for ideas rooted in innovation and impact. Reiterating the government’s focus on startups addressing grassroots challenges in agriculture, health, education, and governance, he encouraged youth to embrace the mantra of “Update and Create” urging a shift from job seekers to job creators.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Founder Chancellor of LPU, stated that entrepreneurship and innovation form a core pillar of LPU’s academic and institutional philosophy. At LPU, student ideas are supported by dedicated innovation studios and a specialised Department of Entrepreneurship that provides structured mentorship, industry integration, and incubation support. Dr. Mittal emphasised that empowering young entrepreneurs goes beyond building enterprises, it contributes to national economic resilience, employment generation, and innovation capacity, making it a privilege for LPU to partner in initiatives that align education with nation-building.