UK-based Odia entrepreneur and former Army Captain Arun Kar addressed a session at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He speaks to Arunika Mohapatra about the experience.What did you speak about?I spoke about the need to shift from speed-driven innovation to problem-driven and trust-driven innovation. I emphasised that innovation is not about how quickly products are launched, but about how responsibly solutions are deployed at scale. I shared that technology only creates real value when it solves genuine problems, earns trust, and delivers long-term impact across markets and institutions. What did you highlight?I highlighted three key aspects. First, that innovation must always begin with a real-world problem rather than technology for its own sake. Secondly, responsible innovation — built with governance, transparency, privacy and security by design — is essential for sustainable scale. Thirdly, long-term value creation requires alignment between entrepreneurs, policymakers and ecosystems rather than isolated efforts. Did you speak about Odisha?Yes, I spoke about my roots and how regions like Odisha represent resilience, discipline and untapped talent. I shared that with the right platforms, policy support and institution-led thinking, such regions can contribute significantly to global innovation. Odisha reflects grounded growth, which is increasingly relevant in today’s global innovation discourse. What insights did you gain?What struck me most was the shared realisation that trust has become the most critical currency in the innovation economy. There was a strong consensus that without trust — from citizens, customers and institutions — even the most advanced technology cannot scale sustainably. Did you interact with dignitaries from India?I met several dignitaries during the launch of the India Pavilion on Jan 20. I met Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu; Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma; Union minister for civil aviation Ram Mohan Naidu; and Union minister for new and renewable energy, Pralhad Joshi. The interactions were forward-looking and focused on India’s growth trajectory, sustainability and the role of technology in institution-building. The pavilion launch highlighted India’s growing confidence and leadership in global conversations around innovation, sustainability and economic growth.
