Announcement
On 8 September 2026, Avathon, a leading provider of autonomy‑for‑operations AI solutions, and the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) announced the launch of the Avathon Physical AI Lab (Avathon PAL) located in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at IIT Roorkee.
Purpose and Scope
The laboratory is dedicated to advancing the science of Physical AI for the industrial economy. Research will target the most difficult problems in the industrial sector, including large‑scale supply‑chain planning, logistics optimisation, and the development of knowledge‑driven, continuously learning autonomous systems. The initiative aims to create a durable foundation for cutting‑edge Physical AI research that can be directly translated into production‑grade autonomy across mining, energy, manufacturing, logistics, aerospace and other industrial domains.
Leadership Quotes
Avathon Chief Executive Officer Pervinder Johar, an IIT Roorkee alumnus, said that returning to his alma mater to build something lasting is deeply personal and that the talent and rigor at the institute are extraordinary. IIT Roorkee Director Prof. K.K. Pant described the lab as an important step in strengthening the bridge between cutting‑edge research and real‑world industrial challenges, contributing to India’s technological self‑reliance and the vision of a “Viksit Bharat 2047”. Prof. Sugata Gangopadhyay, Principal Investigator of Avathon PAL, highlighted that the partnership offers researchers academic freedom combined with industrial relevance.
Collaboration Structure
Avathon PAL will operate in close concert with Avathon’s newly formed AI Center of Excellence (COE) in Bangalore. The Bangalore COE will serve as the primary industrial counterpart, channeling research outcomes from IIT Roorkee into deployable autonomy solutions for Indian industry.
Planned Activities
The lab will support sponsored doctoral fellowships, collaborative research projects across multiple problem areas, student internships and industry exposure at Avathon, as well as workshops and technical events that connect the initiative to the broader research community.
About Avathon
Avathon provides an Autonomy Platform that enables organisations to plan, orchestrate and execute complex manufacturing, supply‑chain and asset‑management operations by converting data into actionable knowledge. The platform is designed to scale securely across industrial environments, improving asset performance and operational resilience.
About IIT Roorkee
Established in 1847 as the Thomason College of Civil Engineering and designated an IIT in 2001, IIT Roorkee is an Institution of National Importance offering undergraduate to post‑doctoral programmes across engineering, architecture, sciences, management, humanities and social sciences. The institute is committed to interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation and technology development to address national and global challenges.