Over 300 experts from government, industry, academia, and startups converge to discuss cybersecurity, AI innovation, and India’s secure digital future.
Chandigarh:
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) successfully hosted the Regional Cyber Security & AI (RCA) Conference 2025 in Chandigarh, bringing together over 300 delegates from government bodies, industry, academia, and the start-up ecosystem. The conference focused on India’s evolving digital landscape, exploring ways to build a secure and innovation-driven digital future through cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI).
The event witnessed participation from several distinguished speakers and guests of honour, who shared insights on critical issues shaping India’s digital ecosystem.
In his virtual address, Sh. Vinod Sharma, Regional Director, Northern Region, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, emphasized the growing importance of corporate governance in digital ecosystems, calling for stronger cyber compliance frameworks and promotion of cyber hygiene to protect corporate interests.
Sh. Shailendra Tyagi, Director of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) under MeitY, spoke on India’s potential to lead globally in cybersecurity and AI innovations, highlighting STPI’s support for deep-tech startups and centres of excellence fostering indigenous innovation.
Representing the Chandigarh Administration, Sh. Paviter Singh, PCS, Director, Department of Industries, reaffirmed the UT’s commitment to building a resilient digital infrastructure. He stressed on industry-academia synergy and MSME empowerment through technology adoption.
A unique perspective was presented by Sh. Manish Trehan, Producer of Netflix’s cybercrime drama Jamtara, who emphasized the power of storytelling in spreading cyber awareness, especially through entertainment media.
Ms. Bharti Sood, Regional Director, PHDCCI, welcomed guests and reaffirmed the Chamber’s mission to bridge the gap between industry, government, and academia, while Mr. Tarun Malhotra, Founder of Cyber Spunks, called cybersecurity and AI the twin pillars of digital growth.
Dr. Anirudh Gupta, CEO, DCM Group of Schools, stressed on the need to introduce AI literacy and cyber safety at the grassroots level by integrating it into school curricula.
The conference featured three high-impact panel discussions:
AI & Cybersecurity – Game Changers for MSME Exports
Moderated by Tarun Malhotra, with Sh. Gagan Khurana (CERT-In), Wing Commander Sonika Tanwar (DigiTruce), and Sh. Dinesh Sharma (Sophos), the panel explored how MSMEs can use AI and cybersecurity tools to boost digital trust and global competitiveness.
DPDP Act 2023 – Compliance, Confusion & Consequences
Led by Sh. Amarpal Singh (WTW), with Commodore Dhiraj Sareen (UIDAI), Ms. Debashree Mukherjee (PwC), and Sh. Prashant Khurana (AZB & Partners), the panel dissected the Data Protection Act’s impact on business operations, compliance complexities, and legal clarity.
Scaling Smart with AI
Moderated by Kulbir Singh (DesignersX), with panelists Ms. Smiti Bhatt Deorah (Advantage Club AI), Ms. Isha Rani (Microsoft), and Dr. Rini (BuildTrack Smart Automation), the discussion focused on scalable AI integration strategies for business transformation.
The RCA Conference 2025 marked a significant milestone in regional collaboration for tech-led development, setting the tone for policy alignment, innovation scaling, and inclusive digital growth across India.
