New Delhi, Mar 8 (KNN) The Federation of Indian Micro And Small & Medium Enterprises (FISME) recently organised an international conference titled “Strategies for Mass Scale Technological Upgradation for MSMEs: Global Experiences and Lessons for India,” on Friday.
The event brought together experts from around the world to discuss innovative approaches and share experiences relevant to the Indian MSME sector.
Sandeep Kishore Jain, President, FISME, delivered the welcome address, setting the tone for the conference by highlighting the critical importance of technological adoption for the competitiveness of MSMEs in today’s global marketplace.
He highlighted, “There are many schemes that also enable financing for tech upgradation. The recent scheme for the purchase of machines up to Rs 100 crore under Credit Guarantee Scheme is an excellent initiative.”
This was followed by a special address from Guest of Honour Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Government of India, who emphasised the government’s commitment to supporting technological transformation in the sector.
The Chief Guest, Rajendra Agrawal, Convenor of Friends of MSMEs in Parliament and Former MP from Meerut, addressed the gathering and underscored the significance of policy interventions to facilitate technology adoption among small businesses.
The first technical session, chaired by Mercy Epao, focused on global experiences in MSME technological upgradation.
Dr. Giovanni Zazzerini, Secretary General, INSME, Rome, Italy, presented insights on successful European models of technology transfer.
He emphasised, “Innovation has been a challenge in the MSME sector. Competitive pressure and the search for efficiency reduce the room for the redundancy needed to innovate.”
He further stated, “Fostering innovation in MSMEs requires integrating engineering knowledge and technical skills through systems of distributed and locally adapted expertise.”
Dr. Sangeeta Khorana, Professor of International Trade Policy, Aston Business School, UK, discussed the impact of trade policies on technology acquisition for small businesses.
She elaborated, “There has been a lack of partnerships between universities and industries in the country, which are crucial for driving innovation and growth in MSMEs.”
Further international perspectives were provided by Kate Foster, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), who shared the United Kingdom’s approach to digital transformation for small enterprises.
Cristiano Massimo Pasini, Director and Representative, UNIDO, outlined the organisation’s initiatives for sustainable industrial development through technology adoption.
The session concluded with an interactive panel discussion and question-and-answer segment.
The second technical session, moderated by Anil Bhardwaj, Secretary General, FISME, focused on lessons applicable to the Indian context.
The panel featured Mukesh Gulati, Executive Director, Foundation for MSME Clusters, who discussed cluster-based approaches to technology diffusion.
He said, “Energy inefficiencies in the manufacturing sector are alarmingly high, with no unified approach to measure or track the across industries.
The lack of accurate information, misinformation within clusters, and the disconnect between industry and academia further exacerbate the problem. It’s time for change.”
P. Shyam Sunder, Director, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, addressed energy-efficient technologies for sustainable manufacturing.
He said, “We aim to adopt a more systematic approach to support MSMEs in improving their energy efficiency.”
Dr. Ravindra Kumar Singh, Chief General Manager, SIDBI, outlined financing mechanisms available for technology acquisition by MSMEs.
This session also included a robust question-and-answer segment, allowing participants to engage directly with the panelists on specific challenges faced by Indian MSMEs.
The conference concluded with a valedictory session featuring key takeaways presented by Mayank Gaur, Joint Secretary, FISME.
The comprehensive summary highlighted actionable strategies for policymakers, industry associations, and MSME owners to accelerate technological adoption across the sector.
The conference successfully brought together diverse stakeholders to address the critical challenge of technological upgradation for MSMEs, emphasising the importance of international collaboration and knowledge sharing in developing effective strategies for the Indian context.
(KNN Bureau)
