Rourkela: More than 300 academicians and researchers from institutions across India attended a two-day research conclave at NIT Rourkela to strengthen research collaboration, promote industry–academia partnerships and explore ways to translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions to societal and economic challenges, officials said on Friday.
The ANRF–NIT Rourkela Research X Impact Conclave 2026 was inaugurated on October 15 under the theme “Synergy for Sustainability”.
Dr Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, CEO of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), attended the inaugural session as the chief guest. Prof K Umamaheshwar Rao, Director of NIT Rourkela; Prof Himanshu Bhushan Sahu, Organising Chair; and Prof Swadesh Kumar Paratihar, Organising Co-chair, were among the dignitaries present.
Welcoming the participants, Sahu said the conclave provided a platform for researchers, industry experts, faculty members and young scholars to exchange ideas, showcase innovations and establish collaborative partnerships.
He emphasised that addressing challenges in agriculture, healthcare, energy, environmental sustainability and climate resilience required interdisciplinary research and effective cooperation among academia, industry and society.
Addressing the gathering, Kalyanaraman stressed that research must go beyond academic publications and laboratory experiments to generate measurable societal impact.
He urged researchers to pursue ambitious scientific goals, collaborate across institutions and disciplines, and engage with industry to translate discoveries into technologies, enterprises and practical solutions to societal challenges.
Rao highlighted the potential of NIT Rourkela and its partner institutions to contribute to India’s research and innovation goals.
Referring to the hub-and-spoke model under the Partnerships for Accelerated Innovation and Research (PAIR) framework, he said institutions beyond established centres of excellence had the talent and capacity to deliver high-quality research outcomes if provided with adequate support and opportunities.
He called for greater opportunities for National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and other institutions to demonstrate their research capabilities and undertake ambitious projects with accountability.
During the conclave, 30 ANRF grantees from various institutions and agencies presented their research and highlighted its potential societal impact. The researchers also received feedback from Kalyanaraman during an open interaction.
Industry representatives and speakers expressed their commitment to collaborating with researchers by supporting research and development (R&D) projects and pilot-scale studies in their respective sectors.
Those who pledged support included Madhulika Shukla, CEO of IFFCO eBazar Ltd; Jagannath P Nayak, President and Unit Head of Aditya Aluminium (Hindalco); Dipak Khule, Head of R&D at JSW Energy Ltd; and Pradeep Behera, Founder and Managing Director of Thetabeta Algorithms Pvt Ltd.
Prof P Kumaraguru, Visiting Scientist at ANRF, conducted a workshop on democratising research in multiple languages using SARAL AI. The session explored how artificial intelligence tools could help make scientific findings more accessible to the wider public.
Research scholars working in four thematic areas — Sustainable Agriculture, Healthcare and Medical Technologies, Energy Technologies, and Environmental Sustainability — presented posters showcasing their work. Awards were presented for the best posters in each category.
The various activities of the conclave were coordinated by theme leads and co-leads, including Prof Shantanu Behera, Prof Pankaj Sa, Prof Devendra Verma, Prof Harekrushna Sahoo, Prof Sk Md Equeenuddin, Prof Pravat Ray, Prof Binod Bihari Sahu and Prof Partha Saha.
The two-day event aims to strengthen research networks, encourage industry participation and promote the translation of scientific knowledge into innovations that address sustainability and development challenges.
