Alumnus of National Dairy Research Institute and IIM Ahmedabad, Shri Harkesh Mittal, Former Adviser & Head, NSTEDB, DST, Govt. of India, has been instrumental in giving a new vibrancy to promoting innovation and entrepreneurial acumen among a wide section of Indian entrepreneurs ranging from grass-roots industries to high-end deep-tech enterprises for nearly four decades. He was responsible for the conceptualisation and implementation of many innovation and entrepreneurship development programmes. He continues to be a key figure in the promotion of innovations & start-ups in India and his services are being used by many Governments.

He is on various high-level committees of the Government of India. In 2017, he was awarded the Best Mentor award by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India.