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The Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), organised the Namaste Mumbai Conclave 2026 and The Grand CivicTech Fund Quest in Mumbai earlier this month. The event brought together government officials, industry leaders, investors, academicians and entrepreneurs to discuss Mumbai's future as a creative, cultural and innovation-driven city. Alongside panel discussions on urban development and city branding, the conclave featured a CivicTech startup competition aimed at supporting technology-led solutions for urban governance. Niramai Health Analytix Pvt. Ltd. emerged as the winner of the competition, while BMC highlighted its efforts to foster civic innovation through its SMILE incubation programme.
The Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in partnership with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), hosted the Namaste Mumbai Conclave 2026 and The Grand CivicTech Fund Quest in Mumbai earlier this month, bringing together policymakers, industry representatives, investors, academicians and entrepreneurs to discuss the city's next phase of urban and economic development.
The day-long event focused on strengthening Mumbai's position as a centre for creativity, innovation, culture and entrepreneurship while exploring how infrastructure development can be complemented by investments in public spaces, tourism, education and civic innovation.
Opening the conclave, Sudhanshu Vats, President of the Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Managing Director of Pidilite Industries, said the city's future growth should be driven not only by infrastructure development but also by investments in cultural identity, tourism and collaboration between public and private stakeholders. He noted that the Chamber's long association with Mumbai positioned it to support initiatives that improve the city's liveability and global competitiveness.
Delivering the keynote address, Ashwini Bhide, Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, said Mumbai's ongoing infrastructure expansion should be accompanied by efforts to strengthen the city's creative identity and public realm. She stated that while improvements in mobility, business and urban services remain important, the creation of accessible public spaces and cultural infrastructure is equally essential to building a more liveable city.
Bhide observed that infrastructure projects, including the Coastal Road and the expanding Metro network, should contribute not only to improved connectivity but also to the development of public spaces that support community engagement and cultural activities. She also emphasised the need for greater collaboration between government agencies and industry to enhance Mumbai's long-term urban development.
The conclave featured two panel discussions. The first examined strategies for strengthening Mumbai's global identity through its heritage, cinema, theatre, public spaces and cultural infrastructure. The second focused on integrating infrastructure, education, tourism and industry partnerships to position Mumbai among the world's leading creative cities.
The afternoon session shifted towards civic innovation through The Grand CivicTech Fund Quest, jointly organised by the Bombay Chamber and the BMC. The initiative provided a platform for technology startups to present solutions addressing urban challenges before a jury comprising investors and industry leaders.
Representing the BMC, Shashi Bala, Chief – Business Development and Director of the SMILE Council CivicTech Incubator, outlined the objectives of the Society for Mumbai Incubation Lab to Entrepreneurship (SMILE), which supports startups developing technology solutions for civic infrastructure and public services. She said the incubator currently supports 24 startups, with another 17 to 18 ventures in its development pipeline.
Ten shortlisted startups presented their solutions, which were assessed on opportunity, scalability, capability and commercial viability. Niramai Health Analytix Pvt. Ltd. was named the CivicTech Champion, while EcoBio Consulting Pvt. Ltd. and Saltech Design Labs Pvt. Ltd. secured the first and second runner-up positions respectively. Along with cash prizes, the top three startups will receive mentorship from industry experts to support further development and commercialisation of their solutions.
The organisers said the conclave and startup competition were intended to encourage collaboration between government, industry and innovators while promoting technology-driven approaches to urban development, civic services and Mumbai's long-term economic growth.
Source - PTI
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