Kanpur, 5 February 2026: “Desh ko banana hai. Kuch karke dikhana hai” – Anuradha Kumawat, a woman civil engineering student participating in Building Bharat Sampaark Innovation Boot Camp in Civil Engineering, captured the spirit that defined the three-day national programme.
Building Bharat Sampaark Innovation Boot Camp in Civil Engineering was held at IIT Kanpur from 3–5 February 2026. Conceived and led by the Association of Infrastructure Industry (India), in partnership with JSW Group and supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India under the Manthan platform, in partnership with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), with IIT Kanpur as the Academic Partner.
This edition at IIT Kanpur marks the second chapter of the Building Bharat Sampaark series, following its inaugural programme at IIT Gandhinagar. The Boot Camp is dedicated to strengthening innovation capacity among civil engineering students through structured industry–academia collaboration.
The three-day immersive programme brought together over 300 civil engineering students from leading institutions across India, along with distinguished faculty members and senior industry professionals. Structured around interactive sessions, panel discussions, mentorship engagements, and a Hackathon-cum-Start-up Contest, the Boot Camp enabled students to ideate and prototype solutions to pressing infrastructure challenges-reinforcing its role as a focused platform for applied learning and innovation in civil engineering.
The scale and seriousness of the IIT Kanpur edition reflects the growing national relevance of the platform. A defining highlight of the programme was the strong participation of women civil engineering students, signalling a more inclusive and confident generation stepping forward to shape India’s infrastructure future.
Speaking on the intent behind the initiative, Dr. Rajaneesh Dasgupta, Trustee & Director General, Association of Infrastructure Industry (India), and National Director, Building Bharat Sampaark, said, “Building Bharat Sampaark is envisioned as a national movement to redefine how civil engineers are prepared for India’s future. It is not about isolated events, but about building a sustained platform that shapes thinking, strengthens capability, and instils a deep sense of responsibility towards the nation. What we see today is a generation of young engineers eager to contribute with purpose and conviction—and this initiative exists to convert that intent into meaningful, long-term impact for Bharat.”
Highlighting the importance of academia–industry collaboration and IIT Kanpur’s role as a platform bridging this gap, Professor Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, “Civil engineering is fundamental to nation-building, and preparing future engineers requires exposure that extends well beyond classroom learning. IIT Kanpur is proud to host platforms like the Building Bharat Sampaark Innovation Boot Camp, which create meaningful engagement between students, academia, and industry. Such initiatives help young engineers develop critical thinking, practical judgment, and the ability to innovate responsibly at scale.”
Professor Sudhir Misra, who led the IIT Kanpur edition of Building Bharat Sampaark, emphasised the programme’s focus on real problem identification and mentorship as key to shaping responsible, practice-ready civil engineers.
Industry participation formed a cornerstone of the programme, with senior professionals guiding students through problem identification, feasibility assessment, and solution refinement.
The JSW Group has been at the forefront of partnerships with academia spanning diverse domains and specialities. The group’s aim is to create high-impact “collaborative ecosystem” that bridges the gap between academic research and industrial application.
By partnering with India’s premier educational institutions, JSW transforms traditional R&D into a multi-disciplinary engine for growth, sustainability, and legal evolution. Through its strategic alliances, JSW is working to actively shape the technology of tomorrow. This symbiotic relationship ensures that academic breakthroughs are rapidly scaled into industrial solutions, cementing JSW’s position as a leader in purposeful innovation.
Mr. Nilesh Narwekar, Chief Executive Officer, JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the highly diversified JSW Group, the presenting partner, said, “At JSW, we believe that the foundation of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ lies not just in strong materials, but in the innovative minds that use them. India’s infrastructure sector is at a pivotal juncture where innovation must meet execution, and the energy we witnessed at IIT Kanpur demonstrates that the next generation of civil engineers is ready to move beyond textbooks to solve real-world problems. Partnering with the Building Bharat Sampaark aligns perfectly with our vision of fostering a sustainable and resilient infrastructure ecosystem. We are proud to back an initiative that encourages students to think boldly about innovation, quality, and resilience—qualities that define the ethos of our company and are essential to empowering the builders of tomorrow.”
With the successful conclusion of its IIT Kanpur edition, Building Bharat Sampaark Innovation Boot Camp in Civil Engineering continues to evolve as a national movement—bridging academia and industry, encouraging inclusive participation, and fostering innovation anchored in purpose. As the series moves forward to future institutions across India, it remains firmly committed to enabling young civil engineers to contribute meaningfully to the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Building on this momentum, the Association of Infrastructure Industry (India) announced its intent to continue the Building Bharat Sampaark Innovation Boot Camp series, with the next edition planned at IIT Madras in April 2026.