HON’BLE CHIEF MINISTER OF KARNATAKA, SHRI SIDDARAMAIAH INAUGURATES THREE-DAY CONCLAVE
MARQUEE EVENT BRINGS TOGETHER 1700 EXPERTS FROM METALS & MATERIALS INDUSTRY FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Bengaluru, 20 November 2024: The 78th Annual Technical Meet (ATM) of the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM) commenced today, with the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah, inaugurating the three-day flagship industry conclave.
The other distinguished dignitaries present on the occasion included Shri D.K. Shivakumar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri MB Patil, Hon’ble Minister of Large & Medium Scale Industries and Infrastructure Development, Govt. of Karnataka and Shri Sajjan Jindal – President of IIM and Chairman of JSW Group.
The marquee event is being held from November 20-22, 2024 at the Dr. Babu Rajendra Prasad International Convention Centre, GKVK campus, Vignana Kendra in Bengaluru. Organised by JSW Steel in partnership with the Ministry of Steel and the IIM chapters of Vijayanagar, Bangalore, Dolvi, Salem, and Kolkata (Headquarters of IIM), this three-day conclave brings together 1,700 delegates, including leading national and international experts from the metals and materials industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sajjan Jindal, President of Indian Institute of Metals (IIM) & Chairman of JSW Group, said: “A conference such as IIM-ATM 2024 is vital for strengthening our ecosystem, fostering collaboration, exchanging ideas and recognizing excellence. They inspire us to think bigger and innovate further. India’s steel industry is widely recognised as the backbone of our economy, symbolizing our nation’s resilience and ambition. As the world moves toward decarbonization, India’s steel industry is setting new benchmarks in green production, aligning with global sustainability goals. Beyond steel, metals and advanced materials are driving ground-breaking progress in sectors such as renewable energy, electric mobility, aerospace, and healthcare, thereby reshaping industries, enhancing lives, and empowering nations.
“Karnataka has today emerged as a hub for high-tech industries, R&D centres and manufacturing, creating an ideal ecosystem for thriving businesses. JSW Steel’s Vijayanagar plant, which celebrated 25 years of steelmaking last year, is a testament to Karnataka’s industrial prowess. What began as a greenfield venture has grown into India’s largest single-location steel plant, and we are committed to making it the largest single-site steel plant globally,” he added.
The International Symposium, themed “Transformational Technologies in Materials & Manufacturing,” is the cornerstone of the event. It provides a platform for exchanging ideas, showcasing innovation, and driving progress in materials science, metallurgy, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
The event also features a Poster Session and Technical Exhibition, inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister and Shri Sajjan Jindal. The exhibition includes participation from 65 companies and brands, offering a glimpse into cutting-edge developments and advancements in the industry.
To mark the occasion, a commemorative souvenir was also released by the Chief Guest, the President of IIM, and other dignitaries on the dais.
A highlight of the IIM-ATM 2024 was the presentation of the IIM Core Awards, honouring 55 recipients across 26 categories. Among these, the prestigious IIM Sustainability Award in the Large Integrated Steel Plants category was jointly awarded to JSW Steel and Tata Steel, recognising their contributions to sustainable steelmaking.
In a special tribute ceremony, Padma Vibhushan Shri Ratan Tata was honoured for his unparalleled contributions to industry and society. Additionally, the IIM-JRD Tata Award was conferred upon Shri Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Company, by Shri T.V. Narendran, Managing Director of Tata Steel, and Shri Sajjan Jindal, in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the Indian manufacturing industry.
The event underscores inclusivity and innovation through its student-centric sessions, attracting over 350 students from premier institutions such as IITs and IISc. These sessions foster an industry-student dialogue, featuring knowledge-sharing, discussions on the future of the metals industry, and career prospects for the next generation. Notably, 12 unique PhD presentations by scholars from IITs, IISc, and NITs are being showcased, offering insights into ground-breaking research.
