The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers today organized the inaugural edition of CHEMCONNECT 2026 at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras on 25th August 2026.

Over 200 leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs across industry, academia, start-ups, and research institutions, including representatives from the Centres of Excellence established by the Department attended the event.

The inaugural ceremony of the event was attended by Shri Tejveer Singh, Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) as chief guest along with Prof V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, Dr. G. Venkatesh, Joint Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Prof. Shishir Sinha, Director General, CIPET and Prof. Ethayaraja Mani, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras.

Shri Tejveer Singh, Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, inaugurated the event and also launched the Centre of Excellence on Biodegradable Packaging Materials (BioPack) at IIT Madras. The BioPack facility will serve as a hub for sustainable innovation, capacity building, and advanced research in eco-friendly packaging capabilities.

Delivering the inaugural address, Shri Tejveer Singh emphasized the critical role of the chemical sector as a foundational driver feeding into virtually every manufacturing segment of the economy. He highlighted that as India advances toward achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047, strengthening industry-academia partnerships is vital to translate laboratory research into commercially viable products.

The Secretary underscored the imperative of import substitution, noting that goods must be processed domestically to foster greater self-reliance. He expressed confidence that targeted R&D and industry-backed research clusters will expand India's global footprint. Sh. Singh further announced that CHEMCONNECT will become an annual fixture held every July–August to benchmark progress across all the Centres of Excellence.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, detailed the importance of institutional synergies in taking technology to its logical fruition and assured of full support to the chemical sector through reverse pitching, where industry presents it’s problems to research institutions.

Dr. G. Venkatesh, Joint Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, outlined the vision of the Centre of Excellence scheme, while Prof. Shishir Sinha, Director General, CIPET, highlighted the initiative's alignment with national development goals. Prof. Ethayaraja Mani of IIT Madras, who was the coordinator of the event delivered the welcome address and vote of thanks.

The Secretary, DCPC along with Director IIT Madras also released the compendium of CHEMCONNECT 2026.

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DHARMENDRA

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