Pune: The Pune International Centre celebrated the PIC 14th Foundation Day on September 24, 2025, at its newly inaugurated campus in Pashan.
The event, held for the first time at the new facility, brought together distinguished policymakers, researchers, and thought leaders to reflect on PIC’s journey and outline the roadmap for PIC 2.0.
Dr Raghunath Mashelkar: India’s Intellectual Capital is its True Strength
In his keynote address, Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, President of PIC, reflected on the Centre’s progress since its establishment in 2011.
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Emphasising Pune’s potential as a global capability hub, he said India’s greatest strength lies in its intellectual capital. He called for radical innovation and a mindset shift, reaffirming PIC’s five guiding principles – independence, integrity, integration, innovation, and influence.
PIC 14th Foundation Day: Thought Leadership and PIC 2.0 Vision
Participating in a panel discussion moderated by Maj. Gen. Nitin Gadkari (Retd.), Director of PIC, Dr. Mashelkar described PIC 2.0 as a hub of innovation and intellectual rigour.
- Prashant Girbane, General Secretary of PIC, emphasised engaging youth, encouraging women’s participation, and strengthening ecosystem partnerships.
- Dr Ajit Ranade, Senior Fellow at PIC, highlighted the institution’s commitment to independent and rigorous policy advocacy, drawing parallels with pioneering institutions such as the Servants of India Society and Apple Inc.
- Prof Abhay Pethe stressed collaboration with universities and NGOs to build long-term synergies.
- Dr Vijay Kelkar, Vice President of PIC, underscored PIC’s role as a unique blend of thought leadership and collaborative urban space.
- Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, Trustee of PIC and Pro Chancellor at Symbiosis International (Deemed) University, proposed deeper engagement with universities and induction of PhD scholars into PIC projects.
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PIC 14th Foundation Day: Strengthening PIC’s Mission
The panel emphasised that PIC 14th Foundation Day marks a significant milestone as the organisation transitions to its next phase of growth.
Discussions covered themes of resourcefulness, continuous improvement, national security studies, and multi-dimensional research initiatives.
The event concluded with a felicitation of PIC staff and researchers, followed by a symbolic cake-cutting ceremony jointly performed by Dr. Mashelkar, the senior-most member, and Prasad Walave, the youngest staff member.
