IRC 2022 Organized By Indian Rubber institute Was Held On November 24, 2022 At Hotel Sheraton Grande, Bengaluru

* The theme of the conference “Sustainable Technology Innovation and Mobility”.

Mr. Ashwin D Gowda, IRS, currently working as Managing Director, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation, Govt of Karnataka, inaugurated the event. Mr. Gowda in his inaugural speech, stressed the importance of adapting Sustainable methodology in all our spheres of operation and offered all the support on behalf of Karnataka Govt.

The Guests of Honour were Dr.Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director of JK Tyre & Industries Ltd and Dr. D. Sawar Dhanania Chairman, Rubber Board of India. Dr.Ashutosh Sharma Former Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, Govt of India, President, Indian National Science Academy.

Other dignitaries who joined the Conference were Dr. James Eddy, Chairman ACS Rubber Division, Dr.Mathew Thornton, Secretary-General -International Rubber Conference Organisation, Dr.R Mukhopadhyay Chairman, IRI , Mr. V K Misra, Vice Chairman IRI, Mr. PK Mohamed, Chief Convenor and past chairman of IRI, Mr. KJ Janakar- Conference Convenor and Mr. Mehul Patel- Director ACS.

Mr. VK Misra welcomed the dignitaries to the dais and all delegates present in the conference and explained the importance of such conference in India when India is growing at a fastest rate to make 5 trillion economy by 2027. He also emphasized on the theme, particularly Sustainability and mobility, Such conference becomes even more critical where technology required to continuously enhance this field is shared and discussed and thus  meeting the desired objective.

Mr. PK Mohamed Chief convenor gave complete account of the conference and exposition. Before the conference, committee organized 3 workshop which were attended by 170 people. Workshop were organized on Mixing Technology, Speciality rubber and Advanced Tyre and Vehicle Technology.

A total of 120 papers were presented in the Conference, which included 51 % participation from abroad. It is worthwhile to note that there are technical presentations from 20 countries other than India. There were 111 booths specially dedicated for Rubber Industry. With the support of the academic institutions and the IRCO governing council, IRI has organized three innovative programs to encourage the students and create interest in them in rubber science and technology. The program were named Inspire, Explore, and Implement. The program, Inspire, is meant to encourage school students, and create interest in the field of rubber technology. Forty school students are invited to the conference venue on the third day of the conference to show them exposition and interact with senior members of the Indian rubber institute. The program, explore is meant for college students who are studying rubber technology courses in India. Forty of them are provided with all facilities to attend the conference and exposition and interact with all eminent personalities in the field of rubber research, manufacturing, and technology. This program may be useful for them to identify the areas of research that they can peruse during the further course of study. . The third program named, Implement is meant for student who is undergoing studies in advanced courses and doing research. They are provided with facilities to present their work through oral and poster presentations. A panel of four experts will judge the student papers and IRCO will facilitate student awards.

Dr.R Mukhopadhyay, Chairman IRI and President of IRMRA, highlighted the importance of skilled manpower, especially in the rubber sector to make India as a hub of Rubber product manufacturing capability and export to the world. In this direction IRI Is working to establish the first unique Centre Of Excellence  for rubber and allied Industry at JSS STU Campus Mysuru, Karnataka and it will the modal centre of technology development for MSME Rubber sector including the organized sector.

Dr. Raghupati Singhania Chairman and Special guest of Honour was very appreciative of the efforts put in by Scientist and Technologist in the field of rubber industry to have brought the technology level to the current highly competitive situation and also requested to continue this quest. He was very elaborate regarding the India Industry and the capability of the industry to compete world over with the products manufactured in India, He also explained  the growth of radialization of CV industry in India and the continued efforts required in this field to stay globally competitive. He also touched upon their challenges in the Global arena and thus even further need for strengthen R&D efforts for science and technology of the globally competitive products manufactured in India thus moving towards ATMA Nirbhar Bharat.

Dr.D. Sawar Dhanania Chairman, Rubber Board of India was very explicit in terms of the demand and growth of natural rubber in India and therefore the efforts required to nurture the development in this field. He expressed, and suggested joint efforts required in this field. He was very happy to participate in this International Conference and expressed his appreciation for the topics being covered.

Dr. Ashuthosh Sharma, who is the founder of National Science and Technology policy for the next 5 years  in his keynote address, explained the importance of innovation and invention in India context and stressed the need for creating Indigenous knowledge, people development, infrastructure development to make india self-sufficient in different industry. He also stressed that scientist and engineers continually work towards development of eco-friendly material for circular economy, sustainability, and necessity of collaborative research.

Mr. James Eddy, chairman ACS, expressed his satisfaction of working with Indian Rubber Institute for the last several years and is looking forward to more cooperation with IRI to make use of their knowledge bank, training program, conferences and publications.

Dr.Matthew Thornton Secretary-General -International Rubber Conference Organisation - explained about IRCO Organization and also awarded IRCO Medals for the outstanding contribution in Rubber Science and Technology to Dr.R. Mukhopadhyay Chairman IRI and Mr. P K Mohammed(Chief Convenor and Past chairman of IRI)

Mr. KJ Janakar(Conference Convenor)  made the vote of thanks to all the dignitaries who attended the function.