UditVani, Jamshedpur : The Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur on Friday inaugurated its flagship two-day conference, Innovest 2026 (Innovations in Engineering for Sustainable Transformations), marking a significant stride in advancing research and innovation in mechanical engineering.
The conference drew enthusiastic participation from academicians, researchers, and students, creating a vibrant and intellectually stimulating atmosphere.
The inaugural session set the tone for two days of knowledge exchange, collaboration, and forward-looking discussions.
The event was graced by Chief Guest Prof T N Singh, Director of Indian Institute of Technology Patna.
In his keynote address, he underscored the growing importance of interdisciplinary research and urged participants to focus on sustainable, industry-relevant innovations.
He highlighted that stronger collaboration between academia and industry is essential to accelerate technological progress and effectively address real-world challenges.
The conference is being held under the guidance of Chief Patron Prof Gautam Sutradhar, Director of NIT Jamshedpur, who lauded the Mechanical Engineering Department for organising a large-scale academic event. Emphasising the need for continuous innovation in engineering education, he encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions and leverage the platform to its fullest potential.
He also shared his broader vision of fostering research excellence, global collaboration, and innovation-driven learning at the institute.
Deputy Director Prof R V Sharma highlighted the importance of maintaining academic rigor and quality research.
He noted that such conferences provide valuable exposure to emerging technologies and help enhance the research capabilities of both students and faculty.
Encouraging young researchers, he stressed the need for originality and integrity in scholarly work.
Dean (Academic) Prof M K Sinha also addressed the gathering, advocating innovation-driven learning and multidisciplinary collaboration.
He urged participants to explore practical applications of their research to solve real-world engineering problems and appreciated the initiative for strengthening the institute’s research culture.
Registrar Prof Saroj Kumar Sarangi commended the organising team for their meticulous planning and seamless execution, highlighting the importance of strong institutional support in hosting successful academic events.
Earlier, Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department Dr Parmanand Kumar delivered the welcome address, outlining the conference’s objective of creating a platform for researchers, academicians, and industry experts to exchange ideas and present cutting-edge work in emerging areas of mechanical engineering.
The conference was efficiently coordinated by Organising Secretaries—Dr Rinku Kr Gouda, Dr Shailesh Kumar Jha, Dr Arvind Patel, Dr Abhishek Kumar, and Dr Sri Krishna Sudhamsu Kambhammettu—whose efforts ensured smooth planning and execution.
The inaugural session witnessed the presence of deans, faculty members, and a large number of participants.
Around 35 attendees joined in offline mode, while nearly 115 participants participated online, reflecting wide engagement.
The conference received an overwhelming response, with over 300 research papers submitted.
Following a rigorous peer-review process, more than 170 papers were accepted for presentation, indicating the high quality of research contributions.
Scheduled over April 3 and 4, Innovest 2026 is expected to serve as a pivotal platform for fostering innovation, strengthening collaboration, and advancing research excellence in mechanical engineering.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks, acknowledging the contributions of all dignitaries, organisers, and participants.
