TNR News Network
Kangra
IIT Gandhinagar recently hosted two high-profile international workshops spearheaded by Dr. Akshai Runchal, retired professor of IIT Kanpur and the University of California, and founder of the ACRi Group.
The first workshop, Sustainable Energy, Power and Propulsion, was held from January 7–9, followed by Artificial Intelligence Driven Computational Fluid Dynamics from January 12–14. Both events drew leading experts from India and abroad, with representation from nearly a dozen countries.
The workshops aimed to foster joint research and development projects, as well as academic exchanges of courses, students, and faculty between Indian and overseas institutions. Since their inception in 2004, this series of workshops has already resulted in more than 30 collaborative R&D projects and numerous faculty and student exchanges.
Highlighting the importance of the themes, Dr. Runchal noted that artificial intelligence is transforming every aspect of human society and industry, while sustainable energy remains a critical requirement for the future.
The inaugural workshop was graced by Padma Shri awardee Dr. Prahlada Ramarao as Chief Guest, while Dr. Debanik Roy from the Bhabha Atomic Research Center served as Chief Guest for the second. Prof. Rajat Moona, Director of IIT Gandhinagar, welcomed the delegates, and Dr. Runchal delivered the opening remarks outlining the objectives and goals.
The Ministry of Education, Government of India, and national media provided wide coverage of the events, underscoring their significance in advancing India’s global academic collaborations.
Dr. Runchal, a Fellow of the American Society of Thermal and Fluid Engineers (ASTFE) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), is an internationally recognized authority in computational fluid and thermal sciences. With over six decades of teaching and consulting experience, he has lived and taught in Kanpur, London, Nice, and Los Angeles.
Currently residing in McLeod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh, Dr. Runchal is also deeply engaged in cultural preservation through the Kangra Arts Promotion Society (KAPS), a registered NGO dedicated to reviving the endangered art of Kangra miniature paintings.
The workshops received wide coverage both from the media and from the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2213745®=3&lang=2
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/gujarat-focus-on-future-of-ai-driven-cfd-at-iit-gandhinagar-meet-10470162/
https://theliveahmedabad.com/2026/01/12/iit-gandhinagar-hosts-international-symposium-exploring-the-future-of-ai-driven-computational-fluid-dynamics/
