Shell India Changemakers 2025 spotlights bold innovations for a net-zero future

Shell India held the third edition of ‘Changemakers of Tomorrow 2025’ in Bengaluru, bringing together innovators, policymakers, academia, entrepreneurs, and partners to support India’s net-zero ambitions.

Shell India held the third edition of ‘Changemakers of Tomorrow 2025’ in Bengaluru, bringing together innovators, policymakers, academia, entrepreneurs, and partners to support India’s net-zero ambitions. The event was inaugurated by Nivruti Rai, MD & CEO, Invest India; Mansi Madan Tripathy, Chairperson, Shell Group of Companies India & SVP, Shell Lubricants Asia Pacific; Robbert van Rutten, EVP Information & Digital Technology & Shell CIO; Selda Gunsel, CTO & EVP Technology, Shell; Ajay Mehta, VP Research & Innovation, Technology, Shell; and Pratibha Priyadarshini, VP HR, Shell India. They spotlighted bold ideas and breakthrough technologies shaping the future of energy.

Inaugurating the event, Nivruti Rai, MD & CEO, Invest India, said, “India’s innovators are building tomorrow’s energy infrastructure. One bold stroke beats a hundred small touches!” Platforms like Shell’s Changemakers bring together innovators, technology, capital and industry exactly when breakthrough solutions need scale. And, at Invest India, we facilitate these partnerships for concrete results: investments secured, jobs created, emissions reduced, and energy security strengthened. This is how Maximising India drives the Maximum World!”

Mansi Madan Tripathy, Chairperson, Shell Group of Companies India & Senior Vice President, Shell Lubricant Asia Pacific, said, “We believe the journey to net-zero will be powered by bold ideas, game-changing solutions, and collaborative action. ‘Changemakers of Tomorrow 2025’ is a testament to that belief—an initiative that, for over three years, has placed innovation at the heart of India’s energy transition. This platform shows how Shell, in partnership with academia, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, is accelerating progress through technology, talent, and trust. As we look ahead, we remain committed to nurturing the next generation of innovators, those who will shape a more resilient and inclusive energy future. Together, we are not just powering progress; we are building the future of energy.”

Gunjan Krishna, IAS, Industrial Development Commissioner and Director, Industries Department, Government of Karnataka, said, “MSMEs are the backbone of Karnataka’s industrial growth, driving inclusive and innovation-led development. Initiatives like ‘Changemakers of Tomorrow 2025’ by Shell strategically support our vision by connecting emerging entrepreneurs with global expertise and scalable platforms. Such collaborations accelerate industrial transformation while fostering equitable growth across the state. We encourage more innovators and industry leaders to join hands in building a future-ready, sustainable industrial ecosystem for Karnataka.” 

On Day 1, attendees discussed the role of technology in driving the energy transition. The session, “Tech-Driven Energy: How Technology is Powering the Transition to a Secure and Lower Carbon Future,” featured speakers from Shell Group of Companies India, Salesforce South Asia, Hitachi Energy, and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles. 

A fireside chat between Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and chairman of Infosys, and Robbert van Rutten, EVP of Information & Digital Technology & Shell CIO, offered an engaging exploration of how technology is reshaping the energy landscape, highlighting the transformative role of digital innovation in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon future.

Other highlights included Shell E4 Demo Day, showcasing startups driving energy transition; the CSR impact innovation showcase by school & college students, including Shell NXplorers; and Shell Eco-marathon, featuring EV LUNARIS, developed by team Folium Eco-drive from the College of Engineering Trivandrum, at the Vehicle Showcase.

On Day 2, the focus was on empathy in leadership, phygital partnerships, innovation in gas, and the Shell.ai Awards, with a keynote by Shantanu Naidu, General Manager, Head, Strategic Initiatives, Tata Motors, on ‘The Language of Care’. The panel ‘Powering the Future of Digital Infrastructure & Data Centers’ featured Amit Ghugre, CTO Shell Lubricants India; Gaurav Parulekar, Manager, Product Offering & Marketing, Vertiv; and Adith Chandrashekar, Director, APAC Sales, Unicorn, discussing emerging technologies shaping smart data centres. The session further highlighted Shell’s advanced liquid cooling solutions, including direct liquid-to-chip coolant and immersion fluids, which are designed to address thermal management issues in AI infrastructure.

Additional sessions covered open innovation, AI for energy, and the future of gas, alongside hackathons, startup showcases, and networking opportunities.

Shell’s partners, including Microsoft, HP, CGI, Salesforce, Accenture, AWS, C3.ai, Infosys, TCS, IBM, T-Mobile and SLB, reinforced the importance of cross-sector collaboration and digital innovation in shaping India’s energy future.