New Delhi/Hyderabad, Sep 03: The Sixth International Conference on Emerging Techniques in Computational Intelligence held at Mahindra University brought together researchers, academics, technology leaders and industry experts to discuss emerging developments and applications in computational intelligence.
The four-day conference featured workshops on frontline topics, keynote lectures by international experts and nearly 200 high-quality contributed paper presentations, selected through a rigorous review process. The event brought together perspectives from academia and industry, with discussions spanning emerging computational techniques, artificial intelligence, optimisation, advanced computing and their applications across sectors. The programme also provided a platform for researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration.
Speaking on the role of computational intelligence in shaping future innovation, Prof. Debashish Bhattacharji, Former Vice President – Research, Technology & New Materials, Tata Steel Global, said,
“Computational intelligence is moving from being a specialised area of research to becoming an important enabler of innovation across sectors. The real opportunity lies in bringing together advances in algorithms, computing, materials and domain knowledge to address complex challenges. Platforms such as ICETCI are important because they create meaningful connections between fundamental research and applications that can shape the technologies of tomorrow.”
The inaugural session featured distinguished speakers including Dr Satheesh Reddy, former Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation, and former Director General, Missiles and Strategic Systems, and Dr Debashish Bhattacharya, former Vice President – Research, Technology & New Materials, Tata Steel Global. Both speakers brought extensive experience in research, innovation, technology and national strategic capabilities.
“The next phase of computational intelligence will be shaped by the convergence of AI, quantum computing and advanced computational methods. India has a strong research community and a growing technology ecosystem, and conferences such as ICETCI provide an important platform for researchers and industry practitioners to exchange ideas, identify new opportunities and accelerate innovation,” said Dr. L. Venkata Subramaniam, CEO, Qbit Force Quantum Pvt. Ltd. and Former Head of IBM Quantum India.
The conference also featured keynote addresses by leading experts including Kalyanmoy Deb, Endowed Shelby Distinguished Professor, University of Alabama, USA; Simon See, Global Head, NVIDIA AI Technology Centre, Singapore; Pankaj Dayama, Senior Technical Staff Member, Master Inventor and Senior Manager – AI for Industry 4.0, IBM Research, India; Pradeep Kumar Jilagam, Director of Systems Architecture & Workload Engineering for Mobile & Client Business Unit, Micron Technology Operations India LLP; Shalabh Bhatnagar, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Automation, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru; and L. Venkata Subramaniam, CEO, Qbit Force Quantum Pvt. Ltd, India.
Speaking on the conference, Dr Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor, Mahindra University, said,
“ICETCI 2026 reflects the growing importance of computational intelligence in addressing complex challenges across research, industry and society. The event established itself as a premier global platform for the exchange of pioneering ideas, uniting world-class researchers, industry pioneers, and policymakers to chart the future of Artificial Intelligence and Computational Intelligence. At Mahindra University, we remain committed to fostering interdisciplinary research and equipping the next generation of innovators with the knowledge and skills to contribute to a rapidly evolving technology landscape.”
Authors from all over the world presented almost 140 papers. 120 odd Institutions from India, USA, Japan and many other countries participated in this conference. Together, the studies underscore the increasing role of AI in digital trust, health care, brain-computer interaction and the fight against misinformation.
Dr Arya Kumar Bhattacharya, Dean, Research and Development, École Centrale School of Engineering, Mahindra University said,
“The strength of computational intelligence lies in its ability to bring together ideas from mathematics, computer science, engineering and domain-specific research. ICETCI 2026 has provided a valuable platform for presenting high-quality research while encouraging dialogue around how emerging computational methods can address real-world challenges. Such interactions are essential for strengthening India’s research ecosystem and accelerating technology development.”
The conference also featured a cultural programme, providing an opportunity for participants from across academia and industry to engage beyond the technical sessions. With its focus on emerging research, industry applications and interdisciplinary collaboration, ICETCI 2026 reinforced the role of computational intelligence in shaping advances in artificial intelligence and related technologies.
