Expert Talk on “Strengthening R&D Ecosystem: Benefits, Methods and Avenues”
22nd August 2026
Institution's Innovation Council (IIC), Ministry of Education (MoE) Dronacharya Group of Institutions, Greater Noidasuccessfully organised an insightful expert talk on “Strengthening R&D Ecosystem: Benefits, Methods and Avenues”on 22nd August 2026. The session was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Arun Kumar, IIT Delhi, and was specially organized for faculty members across various disciplines of the institute.
The session aimed to strengthen awareness among faculty members about the importance of research and development, emerging research trends, interdisciplinary opportunities, research funding avenues, academic publishing, and the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research and innovation. The expert interaction also highlighted the importance of aligning research initiatives with national priorities and emerging technological needs.
Prof. (Dr.) Arun Kumar provided valuable insights into emerging research trends and funding opportunities at premier institutions. He discussed various emerging technologies, interdisciplinary research possibilities, and major research funding opportunities offered by central government organizations. Faculty members were encouraged to actively pursue funded research projects and develop research proposals addressing contemporary technological and societal challenges.
A significant focus of the session was the role of Artificial Intelligence in research and innovation. Prof. Kumar explained how AI is transforming areas such as intelligent decision-making, edge computing, automation, and advanced data analytics. He encouraged faculty members to explore AI-enabled tools and methodologies for addressing complex research, industrial, and societal challenges.
An interesting component of the talk was the discussion on ongoing research at the Centre for Applied Research in Electronics (CARE), IIT Delhi, particularly in the area of SONAR-based underwater communication. Prof. Kumar explained the potential applications of this research in defence and underwater communication systems. He also discussed nature-inspired SONAR principles, drawing parallels with the echolocation capabilities of dolphins, which use sound waves for navigation and communication. The discussion demonstrated how fundamental research and biological principles can be translated into practical technological solutions.
The session also featured a live demonstration of an AI-powered chatbot developed by Dr. Arun Kumar’s research team. The demonstration showcased applications including natural language interaction, query resolution, intelligent decision support, appointment scheduling, and continuous customer assistance, providing participants with a practical understanding of how AI technologies can be deployed in real-world service environments.
The expert talk provided faculty members with valuable exposure to cutting-edge research, funding opportunities, academic publishing, AI-driven innovation, and technology development at IIT Delhi. The interaction encouraged participants to pursue interdisciplinary research, strengthen institutional research capabilities, explore external funding opportunities, and translate research outcomes into practical applications through innovation and technology transfer.
Overall, the session was highly informative and motivational and successfully strengthened the research-oriented outlook of the participating faculty members. The expert interaction inspired participants to actively engage in research, collaboration, innovation, and technology-driven problem-solving, contributing towards the broader vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.