PSG Institute of Technology and Applied Research organised the eighth edition of Industry-Academia Conclave 2025, under the theme “Engineering the Future with AI.” It is a two-day event held on 10th and 11th October 2025.
Sunny Manchanda, Director – DRDO Young Scientists’ Lab-AI, Bengaluru, was the chief guest.
In his felicitation address, Saravanakumar, Principal of the college, emphasised the significance of the theme of the conclave and how AI augments human intelligence to solve problems and design better systems.
The event featured a series of talks, interactive sessions, MoU signings, and a project exhibition showcasing nearly 100 student teams across various engineering streams.
The programme also included faculty–industry interactions and presentations to industry panels on developing a roadmap for integrating AI into education, research, and practice.
The chief guest’s talk was filled with anecdotes and visual analogies to emphasise the importance of mathematical thinking. He motivated the students that getting stuck or failing is a good thing for growth in a research mindset.
While quoting renowned scientists like Neil Bohr and Feynman, he insisted on doing research and using AI for the right reasons with a healthy dose of scepticism.
The inaugural event also marked the official announcement of the institution’s annual flagship contest, iTech Ideathon 2026.
Abdul Aleem, Dean, Centre for Industry Interaction and Outreach, proposed the vote of Thanks. Heads of various Departments, faculty members and students graced the occasion.
The conclave concluded with 20 individual technical sessions on AI and its future scope in core disciplines of engineering by scientists and experts from various industries and Entrepreneurs.
The panel discussion was moderated by Manimegalai, Associate Dean, Industry Interaction and Outreach. The panel comprised Sunny Manchanda, Vivek Suriyamoorthy, Co-Founder and CTO, Everstage, Coimbatore, and Satya Dhulipala, Head, Coimbatore IT Center, SLB Technology, Coimbatore.
The panellists shared insights from their work in building AI products, integrating AI into enterprise systems, transforming traditional industries, and developing AI solutions for national security.
The discussion explored how AI-driven disruption can be harnessed for career advancement and technological innovation. The session concluded with a Q&A and experience sharing from the experts.
