Overview

On June 15, 2026, the Institute of Engineering & Management (IEM) and the University of Engineering & Management (UEM), in partnership with SMART Society USA, successfully wrapped up the 2026 edition of their flagship Study Abroad Program (SAP), International Internship Initiative, and the Smart Edge & Neuromorphic Systems Conference (SENSE‑SG 2026) in Singapore. The events were held at the Shaw Foundation Alumni House and brought together academicians, researchers, industry experts, innovators, and students from around the world.

Leadership and Organising Team

The initiative was led by Prof. (Dr.) Satyajit Chakrabarti, Director of the IEM‑UEM Group. Coordination was handled by a team comprising Dr. Prabir Kumar Das (Head, Basic Science & Humanities), Dr. Amartya Mukherjee (Head, CSE‑AIML), Dr. Ranabir Banik (Assistant Head, Basic Science & Humanities), Dr. Ayan Kumar Panja (Assistant Head, CSE‑AIML), Dr. Deepsubhra Guha Roy, Dr. Sukanya Mitra, and Dr. Koyel Ganguly (Assistant Registrar), supported by faculty and international collaborators.

Program History and Focus Areas

For more than twelve years, the IEM‑UEM Group has run international Study Abroad Programs, positioning itself as a leading global academic immersion initiative in Eastern India. The 2026 edition emphasized frontier domains such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Internet of Things, Edge Computing, Agentic Systems, Digital Twins, Human‑Computer Interaction, Intelligent Decision Making, and Smart Infrastructure.

Academic and Technical Content

The Study Abroad Program delivered 10 keynote and expert sessions, while the concurrent SENSE‑SG 2026 Conference added six specialized technical tracks. Sixteen distinguished speakers from globally renowned universities and technology firms participated. Notable speakers included:

  • Dr. Mathew Chua, Associate Professor, National University of Singapore and Director of xDigital Singapore, who discussed emerging IoT ecosystems.
  • Mr. Deepak Waghmare, Chief Technology Officer, Dell Technologies (APJ), who addressed AI and Cybersecurity transformation.
  • Dr. Marton Szel, Director, Lynx Analytics, who presented advanced AI‑driven decision science.
  • Dr. Gabor Benedek, Co‑founder, Lynx Analytics, who spoke on the future of intelligent systems.
  • Dr. Sreekanth Raghunath, Data Science Lead, MANN+Hummel Singapore, who showcased industrial machine‑learning applications.
  • Dr. Peter Leong, Singapore Polytechnic, and Dr. Tan Kian Hua, Global Cybersecurity Consultant and CISO, who covered cybersecurity governance and digital resilience.

Additional experts from NUS, NTU, Nanyang Business School, Singapore Institute of Technology, and Singapore Polytechnic contributed specialized sessions and mentoring.

Industry Visits and Collaboration Initiatives

Students visited Lynx Analytics, a leading Singapore AI and advanced analytics firm, engaging with senior executives on AI‑driven business transformation, analytics‑based decision‑making, and opportunities for India‑Singapore collaboration. Another key visit was to Duke‑NUS Medical School, where participants observed AI integration in biomedical data science, human‑computer interaction, healthcare analytics, and advanced diagnostics. During this visit, Dr. Prabir Kumar Das formally handed a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to Dr. Bibhas Chakraborty, Deputy Director of the Centre for Biomedical Data Science at Duke‑NUS, outlining plans for joint research, academic exchange, student engagement, and interdisciplinary innovation in AI and biomedical data science.

Conference Structure and Publication

SENSE‑SG 2026 featured paper presentations, poster demonstrations, invited talks, and expert‑chaired sessions across four major tracks:

1. Artificial Intelligence, Agentic Systems and Intelligent Decision Making;

2. Edge Computing, IoT and Distributed Intelligent Systems;

3. Digital Twins, Cyber‑Physical Systems and Smart Infrastructure;

4. Cybersecurity, Privacy and Trustworthy Intelligent Systems.

Researchers from multiple countries participated, and distinguished professors from NUS, NTU, and Nanyang Polytechnic mentored the sessions. Accepted papers will be published through Bentham Science and Wiley.

Awards and Recognition

The event concluded with the Global Excellence, Icon of Inspiration and Leadership Awards Ceremony, organized in association with the Rotary Club of Salt Lake Silicon Valley and Lions Club of Kolkata IEM. The ceremony honored academicians, industry leaders, innovators, and researchers for contributions to science, technology, education, leadership, and societal development, providing students direct interaction with globally recognized leaders.

Closing Remarks

Reflecting on the program’s success, Director Prof. (Dr.) Satyajit Chakrabarti stated, “For over a decade, the Study Abroad Program has been a cornerstone of our vision to provide global exposure, research opportunities, and industry engagement to our students. This initiative continues to bridge the gap between academia and industry while fostering international collaborations. The 2026 edition not only expanded learning opportunities for students but also strengthened our partnerships with leading universities, industries, and research organisations across the world.”

Outlook

The successful completion of SAP 2026 and SENSE‑SG 2026 reinforces the IEM‑UEM Group’s international footprint and sets the stage for future global collaborations, international internships, research partnerships, faculty exchanges, innovation projects, and technology‑driven academic initiatives.