PANAJI: In a world where technological advancements shape our future, staying informed and connected is important. Following two successful editions, Future Ready Tech Events, a venture of Umang Group, hosted the third edition of its highly anticipated Global Technology Summit, “Hello, World! 3.0.” This virtual event took place on Thursday on the Zoho platform, bringing together IT entrepreneurs, professionals, and students from across the globe.
Setting the stage for the virtual event, Mangirish Salelkar, CEO & Co-Founder of Umang Group, Founder President of Goa Technology Association and Chairman of ASSOCHAM’s IT Committee in Goa gave the welcome speech and introduced the theme “The Ethics of Technology: Balancing Innovation and Responsibility” to the virtual attendees. His vision on taking Goa to the next level and making Goa a tech first state is awesome.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant was the chief guest who emphasized on the vital connection between technology, ethics, and responsibility in our evolving world. His commitment to fostering a responsible tech ecosystem in Goa was inspiring. Tourism & IT Minister Rohan Khaunte was the Guest of Honor, and he shared his views on advancing tourism and IT shaping Goa’s growth and development.
Ajay P Shrivastava, Jurisdictional Director at Software Technology Parks of India was the Special Guest speaker, offering his thoughts on STPI playing a crucial role in providing statutory clearances for IT exports and supports companies in navigating the evolving tech landscape.
Following this insightful address, the next special guest speaker, Gurmeet Singh, Executive Director of the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council, emphasized the critical importance of balancing technological innovation with ethical responsibility, particularly in areas like AI and data privacy.
He highlighted the risks posed by deepfakes, which can manipulate public opinion and harm individuals, while also recognizing their potential for creativity in the entertainment industry.
He called for collaboration among governments, tech companies, and individuals to address these challenges. He further encouraged a values driven approach to technology, concluding with an invitation to India Soft 2025.
A thought provoking panel discussion was followed which focused on “Global Perspectives on Tech Ethics: Balancing Innovation Across Cultures” and the panelists for the discussion were Aniruddha Kaprekar, Co-Founder of Tech India Advocates and Jaimin Shah, CEO & Managing Director Dev Information Technology, India Dev Info-Tech North America, Canada Co-Promoter, DevX Co-Chairman, ASSOCHAM Gujarat Sr Vice President, TiE Ahmedabad Chairman GCCI IT Taskforce.
The session was moderated by Milind Prabhu, CEO & Managing Director of Genora Infotech. The panelist emphasized the importance of ethics in technology, highlighting the need for fairness, transparency, and local understanding in innovation. They agreed that while technology can drive progress, it must be guided by ethical considerations to prevent societal harm, and collaboration across borders is essential for success.
The event continued with a compelling fireside chat on the topic “Innovation vs. Regulation: Where Should Startups Draw the Line?” This insightful discussion featured Karen Athaide, a renowned Women in Tech Mentor & Trainer, and Adv Prasanna Timble, a Lawyer & Founder of Legawise as the moderator. Both shared their perspective as they agreed that ethics and innovation should work together, with ethical principles guiding creative processes and building trust among customers. They emphasize the importance of educating employees and the broader community about ethical practices while highlighting the shared responsibility of businesses, individuals, and governments in ensuring responsible innovation.
Chinmay Kamat, COO of CopperCodes Consulting LLP and Treasurer of the Goa Technology Association (GTA), hosted the event and delivered the vote of thanks to conclude the virtual event.
The event was supported by the Government of Goa as State Partner, along with Electronic & Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), and the Goa Technology Association (GTA) as Associate Partners. Zoho was a part of this event as the Technology Partner.