Amritsar, Punjab: The Indian Institute of Management Amritsar (IIMAm), in partnership with the Dingman Centre for Entrepreneurship, Robert H Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, has commenced the 5th International Conference on Management of MSMEs and Doctoral Colloquium (ICMM & DocColl 2026). The three-day conference, being held from 16th January to 18th January at the IIMAm Campus, focuses on the theme “Reimagining MSMEs: Pathways to Growth and Innovation.”
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The conference was formally inaugurated with a ceremonial lamp-lighting by Prof Samir K Srivastava, Director, IIMAm, Prof Balaji Padmanabhan, Professor, Robert H Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, who joined the event virtually, Prof Sougata Ray, Thomas Schmid-Heiny Chair Professor of Practice and Executive Director, Indian School of Business, Dr Riya Singla, Chairperson, ICMM 2026, IIMAm, and Dr Jagriti Srivastava, Chairperson, Doctoral Programme, IIMAm. Addressing the gathering, Prof Samir welcomed the dignitaries, speakers and participants and highlighted the institute’s endeavour to ignite possibilities in line with its vision. He emphasized that the theme of the conference is particularly relevant in the current context, noting that MSMEs contribute over 30 per cent to India’s GDP and serve as key drivers of economic growth. He underscored the need for collective efforts to take the MSME sector forward at this crucial juncture and the role of MSMEs in promoting inclusivity.
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Dr Riya highlighted the objective of the conference to deliberate on advancing MSMEs through policy-oriented and research-driven perspectives, offering a clear and comprehensive overview of the sector. Dr Jagriti noted the diverse research opportunities they present, encouraging doctoral scholars to actively engage and gain meaningful academic insights during the conference.
Prof Balaji Padmanabhan delivered the keynote on the topic “Artificial Intelligence and Small Businesses: Opportunities and Challenges”. He discussed the evolution of artificial intelligence, contrasting early AI systems with modern models developed over the past decade through continuous learning and data-driven processes. Highlighting the growing capabilities of AI and addressing key concerns surrounding human–AI interaction, including apprehensions about AI outperforming or replacing human roles, he also shared practical insights on how small businesses can strategically adopt AI to enhance efficiency, innovation and competitiveness in a rapidly changing market.
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Prof Sougata Ray followed with his keynote address on “Indian SMEs at an Inflection Point: Reigniting Entrepreneurial Passion, Sparking Innovation and Refocusing Family Capital”. He emphasized the importance of family capital within SMEs and their foundational role in building and sustaining the Indian economy. Additionally, he outlined actionable strategies for SME owners to foster innovation, nurture talent and leverage family resources to drive long-term growth.
Following a short tea break, Dr Aswathy Asokan Ajitha, Assistant Professor, IIMAm, felicitated the esteemed panel of guests, marking the commencement of the panel discussion on the conference theme “Future-Ready MSMEs: Integrating Policy, Finance, and Technology for Sustainable Growth”. The panel brought together Sh Vinamra Mishra, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Mr Gurpreet Nagpal, Senior Vice President II, HDFC Bank, Prof Sandeep Kapur, Professor, Department of Business Administration, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and Prof Naresh Sachdev, Director, PCTE, Ludhiana. The session was moderated by Dr Sunil Reddy Kunduru, Assistant Professor, IIMAm.
The discussion focused on the need for MSMEs to adopt a forward-looking and formal approach to growth by strengthening policy awareness, financial discipline and technology adoption. Panel members highlighted the importance of digital systems, transparent financial practices, customer-centric innovation and environmentally responsible operations. The dialogue underscored how coordinated efforts across policy frameworks, financial institutions and academic research can enable MSMEs to become resilient, competitive and sustainable in the long term.
Post lunch, the conference featured an enriching session with a talk by Prof Ranjeet Nambudiri, Dean (Faculty), IIM Indore, on the topic “Teaching Meets Research: How Classrooms Spark Scholarship”. The session highlighted how research often begins with uncertainty and evolves through classroom engagement, while also underscoring the role of academic institutions in addressing real-world problems and preparing capable graduates. Following the session, Dr Jagriti felicitated Prof Nambudiri. The Doctoral Colloquium followed, with scholars presenting their research across multiple tracks focusing on themes such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence-driven innovation, sustainable growth, financial inclusion and competitive strategy in the MSME context. The sessions encouraged meaningful academic dialogue and expert feedback.
After a short tea break, the conference featured an insightful session by Prof Sanjeev Tripathi, Professor, IIM Indore, on the topic “Conducting Experiments in Management Research”. The session focused on building rigour in management research, highlighting how experimental methods help in testing behaviour, intent and perceived value, including the impact of price on decision-making. Prof Tripathi also discussed different experimental research designs, offering participants a structured understanding of how evidence can be systematically developed and evaluated.
Concluding the session, Dr Sanket Vatavwala, Assistant Professor, IIMAm, felicitated Prof Tripathi. The day provided a platform for participants from academia, industry and government to exchange ideas, strengthen connections and foster collaboration. Looking ahead, the conference will feature a visit to the Attari-Wagah Border, offering opportunities for informal interaction and cultural engagement. The subsequent days promise an engaging line-up of paper presentations, a session on “Quantitative Research Methods in Management” by Prof Joshy Jacob, IIM Ahmedabad, the Doctoral Colloquium Competition Track and a session on “The Art of Building a Research Pipeline” by Prof Shashwat Alok, Indian School of Business. This story is Submitted by IIM Amritsar PR Team.
