Bhubaneswar: Subjects like long-term energy security through distributed nuclear reactors, oil and gas exploration, coal gasification and critical mineral extraction, healthcare technology, transportation and logistics and next generation communications will figure prominently at a two-day Technology Conclave-2026 in Bhubaneswar.
The conclave is being organised by the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) at the SOA Deemed to be University on July 11 and 12.
A flagship program of the INAE, the apex body of engineers in the country, it will serve as a platform for engineering researchers, faculty and professionals to engage in technical discourse and knowledge exchange, Prof Damodar Acharya, Chairman of INAE’s Bhubaneswar chapter, told reporters here on Wednesday.
The objective of the conclave is to expose young engineering professionals to the emerging national problems in some critical areas and find solutions for the same. Besides, it will encourage start-ups and entrepreneurs to showcase their initiatives in problem solving, said Acharya, Chairman of the International Advisory Board of SOA and former Chairman of the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
Acharya, also former Director of IIT Kharagpur, said the conclave would engage academia, research personnel and industries aligned with INAE’s mandate of advancing engineering excellence for India’s development by presentation of extended abstracts. This will be the second such conclave to be held in the country the first having been organised at IIT Bombay in 2025.
Important plenary talks will include ‘Nuclear energy with distributed small and medium size reactors’ by Bhuban Chandra Pathak, former Chairman and Managing Director of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), ‘Oil and Gas Exploration’ by Ranjit Rath, Chairman and Managing Director of Oil India Ltd, ‘Next Gen Communications’ by Prof. U.B. Desai, Chancellor, Anurag University and Founding Director, IIT Hyderabad and ‘Coal gasification, fertilizer and coal based chemicals’ by Prof. G.D. Yadav of Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai.
There will also be plenary talks on ‘Semi Conductor Technologies’ by Prof. Shanthi Pavan, Professor at IIT Madras and ‘Critical Mineral and Rare Earth’ by Dr. Rabi Narayan Patra, former Chairman –cum-Managing Director of Indian Rare Earths Ltd (IREL). The conclave will also have panel discussions on transportation and logistics, healthcare technologies and reduction and diversification in energy intensive industries, Prof. Acharya said.
The distinguished speakers will also include Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Member, Niti Aayog, Dr. Binay Kumar Das, Director General, Electronics and Communication System, DRDO and Mr. Vishal Dev, Additional Chief Secretary in the Government of Odisha, E and IT Department. Dr. Ashok Kumar Panda, Chairman and Managing Director of Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) will be the chief guest at the inaugural session which will also be addressed by Mr. J.D. Patil, President of INAE.
Prof Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA Deemed to be University, and Prof. Subhranshu Ranjan Samantaray, Dean (PG and Research Program) at IIT Bhubaneswar, were also present at the news conference and took part in the interaction.
