Guwahati, Sept. 3: For those who want to innovate, remember Charles Darwin.

“It is not the strongest of species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change,” the naturalist had said hundreds of years ago.

The second session at NICT 2010, which was on The Innovation Mantra: SME Success Stories, revolved around the need to innovate and its methodology, which was an inspiration for many in the Northeast.

Kalyan Kar, co-founder and managing director of Acclaris India, emphasised that innovation was necessary for survival and that 50 per cent of the global growth was due to this.

“It is not that innovation is expensive; there are innovations which are inexpensive too,” he said. Responding to a query, Kar said the perception of the Northeast needs to change as there are huge opportunities waiting to be tapped.

Speaking on the situation in the Northeast, Parthapratim Phukan, founder and chief mentor, Gray Matter, said though there are good policies in the region to boost the IT sector, there are obstacles too.

D.K. Sareen, executive director, Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council, called on innovators to think globally, diversify and have passion. “There is a plethora of opportunities for IT exports from the Northeast and the neighbouring countries are the biggest market,” he added.

Speaking from the banker’s perspective, V. Sridhar, general manager, northeastern zonal in-charge of the Small Industries Development Bank of India, said the products should be good enough for them to be provided finance. “Better quality and low prices and good technology are factors to be considered by innovators to get finance,” he added.

The session on Powering the Green Economy through ICT (information and communication technologies) discussed the problems facing data centres while the last session was on saving the heritage of the Northeast.

Wildlife conservators, museum officials and tourism officials spoke on the need of using ICT to conserve precious works.

Dharanidhar Boro, assistant conservator of forests, Assam, said highlighted the role of the electronic media. Known throughout the world for his wildlife conservation work as a ranger, he spoke on the need to conserve wildlife.

Samiron Boruah, exhibition officer of Assam State Museum, said though ICT has pervaded all sections of society, the art field is still untouched.

P.W. Khongjee, parliamentary secretary, department of tourism and health, Meghalaya, said there should be a Northeast forum for conservation of important sites.