Dr. AK Garg, Advisor at Koan Advisory Group
An Electrical Engineer with Doctoral Degree from IIT Kanpur, Dr. AK Garg is a seasoned technocrat with wealth of experience and a proven track record for professional excellence. Known for his target-driven approach and pushing the boundaries of innovation, Dr. Garg devised and led from the front myriad mission-critical digital transformation initiatives at MeitY apart from being a key contributor to various technology oriented and trade& commerce related strategic forums of GoI.
Till recently as a Senior Director in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, he was tasked with the responsibilities of key divisions including Startup, Innovation and IPR, International Cooperation and IT/ITeS Industry Promotion among others. During his stint he had formulated and implemented some of the ground breaking initiatives such as MeitY Startup Hub, National IT policy and National Policy on Software Products.
A keen planner, strategist and implementer, Dr.Garg is passionate about promoting startup-entrepreneurial ecosystem especially in the realm of emerging technologies in the country. The MeitY Startup Hub (MSH) – a dynamic, singular and collaborative platform for tech startup community towards building meaningful synergies in the Indian startup space has been one of his most prolific achievements.
Dr. Garg has a formidable experience of 25 plus years in policy formations, international negotiations and advocacy, (IP, Innovation, Cross Border Data Flows, Trade Promotion etc.) besides a robust exposure to Regulatory framework challenges with regard to Data, Cyber Security Technology Regulations and Emerging Tech.
He had strategically negotiated and managed various agreements, trade issues and MoUs with 50+ countries amid lean resources and outcome complexities. Till recently, he was the ‘Lead Negotiator’ for Digital Trade Chapter in various FTAs including that for RCEP, UAE, UK, IPEF and Canada. Dr. Garg was consistently engaged as Country Ambassador and a key representative in large international multilateral forums such as G20, WTO, BRICS RCEP and UNCITRAL and Shanghai Cooperation-strengthening India’s position vis-a-vis key ICT challenges.
Currently Dr. Garg is s an independent Consultant and Advisor to leading IT firms and startups besides supporting the incumbent G20 presidency.
At present he is an Advisor in Koan Advisory Digital Tech and Trade.
