SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 5: Global experts, academicians, and thought leaders converged at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on Saturday for a two-day international conference focused on the transformative role of digital technologies in sustainable development and business excellence.
The event is organized by the Department of Management Studies and Industrial Engineering and is being held at the Golden Jubilee Lecture Theatre of the institute from July 5 to 6.
The central theme of the conference revolves around advancing the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 by harnessing innovation and digital transformation. The initiative seeks to align academic and industrial thought processes with India’s long-term developmental goals.
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Keynote Address: Focus on Innovation and Holistic Development
Dr. Konga Gopikrishna, Head of the Geospatial Innovation Cell at the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, was the chief guest at the event.
In his keynote address, he highlighted the significance of digital innovation in nation-building and stressed the urgent need for nurturing a skilled talent pool capable of driving transformative change.
He further urged participants to view development through a broader lens, combining technological advancement with holistic, inclusive solutions for national progress.
Leadership, Mindset, and Cultural Shifts Equally Vital
Renowned mining and management expert Dr. P.S. Mishra, former CMD of ECL and SECL and adjunct faculty at NIT Raipur and IIM Raipur, emphasized that while digital tools are essential, mindset transformation and cultural shifts are equally important for realizing true progress.
“Technology is just one aspect. Leadership, collaboration, and an innovation-centric work culture are critical to achieving both incremental and revolutionary changes,” said Dr. Mishra.
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IIT (ISM) Leadership Highlights Role of Intellectual Exchange
Presiding over the event, IIT (ISM) Director Prof. Sukumar Mishra remarked that development must not be confined to material metrics but must also include intellectual and philosophical dimensions. He stressed that such conferences allow for deeper, two-way knowledge exchange, often surpassing the insights gleaned from routine workshops.
Deputy Director Prof. Dheeraj Kumar echoed these sentiments, noting the extensive reach of digital technologies and their growing importance in academia and industry. He also mentioned that selected conference papers will be published in Scopus-indexed proceedings.
International Experts Share Cutting-Edge Insights
The conference featured presentations by several international scholars. Prof. Magesh Chandramouli from Purdue University, USA, spoke about the disruptive potential of the Metaverse and Virtual Reality. Prof. Pierre René Maréchal of the Toulouse Institute, France, offered a deep dive into Non-linear Optimization.
Prof. Sanjay Mishra from IFE, Norway, discussed the intersection of artificial intelligence, financial security, and digital sovereignty. Dr. P.S. Mishra also addressed the implications of digitization in India’s coal mining sector.
The inaugural session began with a welcome address by Prof. Sandeep Mondal, Head of the Department of Management Studies and Industrial Engineering and chairperson of the conference. Prof. Rashmi Singh, the conference convenor, outlined the objectives and introduced keynote speakers.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Esha Saha, the organizing secretary, who expressed gratitude to all participants and dignitaries for their valuable contributions.