Conference Overview
The International Conference on Advanced Sustainable Technologies (ICAST‑2026) was inaugurated at Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) on August 19, 2026 and will run through August 21, 2026. The event is organised by MUJ’s Department of Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering, with the Indian Chemical Council (ICC) serving as the industry partner and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) as the sponsor.
Participation and Programme
The three‑day conference has attracted approximately 250 participants, including 18 keynote and invited speakers drawn from academia and industry across India and abroad. The agenda focuses on translating emerging technologies and scientific research into scalable solutions for India’s environmental, industrial, and developmental challenges.
Key Addresses
- Chief Guest: Shri V. Srinivas, Chief Secretary, Government of Rajasthan, opened the ceremony. In his virtual address, he urged moving beyond the false dichotomy of development versus sustainability, emphasizing that development must be achieved through sustainability, underpinned by scientific knowledge, technological feasibility, strong institutions, and social responsibility. He identified green hydrogen, sustainable energy, critical minerals, advanced energy storage, recycling, environmental remediation, circular economy, sustainable materials, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and digital technologies as the critical areas shaping India’s technological future, and highlighted Rajasthan’s potential in renewable energy, green hydrogen and sustainable industrial development aligned with the state’s “Viksit Rajasthan 2047” vision.
- Guest of Honour: Padma Shri Prof. G. D. Yadav, Emeritus Professor of Eminence and Former Vice‑Chancellor, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, spoke on the expanding role of Chemical Engineering in sustainability. He noted the discipline’s shift from conventional chemical industries to green chemistry, renewable energy, green hydrogen, advanced materials, biotechnology, energy transition, circular economy and sustainable manufacturing. He encouraged young researchers to adopt interdisciplinary approaches and to follow his three‑pronged philosophy of “Patent, Publish and Prosper.”
- Presiding Officer: Prof. N. N. Sharma, President, Manipal University Jaipur, delivered the Presidential Address, stressing that challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, environmental degradation and energy security require convergence of engineering, biotechnology, materials science, environmental sciences, AI and digital technologies. He reaffirmed MUJ’s commitment to building an ecosystem that converts knowledge into innovation, innovation into technology, and technology into societal impact, and called for stronger academia‑industry partnerships.
- University Officials Present: Dr. Amit Soni (Registrar), Dr. Nitu Bhatnagar (Provost), Dr. Kuldip Singh Sangwan (Dean, Faculty of Science, Technology & Architecture) and Dr. Ravi Kant Gupta (Associate Dean) were also in attendance.
Themes and Objectives
The conference aims to foster interdisciplinary research, expert dialogue, and deeper collaboration among academia, industry, government, entrepreneurs and young innovators. Core thematic areas include green hydrogen, sustainable energy, critical minerals, advanced energy storage, recycling, environmental remediation, circular economy, sustainable materials, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies. By strengthening research networks, the event seeks to accelerate the translation of laboratory research into real‑world applications, thereby supporting India’s transition toward green growth, energy security, advanced manufacturing and technology‑driven sustainable development.
Additional Information
For further details about Manipal University Jaipur, readers are directed to the university’s official website at https://jaipur.manipal.edu.