The seminar brought together over 70 delegates from 35 organisations representing the road construction, infrastructure, research, and policymaking ecosystem. The discussions focused on how recycling technologies can help improve resource efficiency, reduce project costs, and support sustainable road development in India.

With material costs continuing to rise and sustainability becoming a key priority for infrastructure projects, the event provided a platform for industry experts to exchange insights on the wider adoption of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) and other recycling technologies.

The seminar featured presentations from industry and academic experts, including Mr. Prasad Dayal, General Manager, Ammann India, Mr. Martinho J. Fernandes, Assistant Vice President and Product Head, Asphalt Plants, Ammann India, Dr. Dharamveer Singh, Professor at IIT Bombay, Dr. Manoranjan Parida, Former Director, CSIR-CRRI, Dr. Ramya Sri Mullapudi, Assistant Professor, IIT Hyderabad, and Mr. Rajesh Kumar Pandey, Independent Director, Vertis Infrastructure Trust. The sessions explored a range of topics related to sustainable road construction, including asphalt recycling technologies, high RAP utilisation, pavement recycling practices, rejuvenator technologies, evolving policy frameworks, and the future of asphalt recycling in India.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Dheeraj Panda, Managing Director, Ammann India, said, “The defining question for India’s road construction industry over the next decade will not be how much infrastructure we build, but how much value we can create while consuming fewer virgin resources. The industry’s competitive advantage will increasingly come from innovation, circularity, and technology-led resource optimisation. Solutions such as Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) represent a fundamental shift in how we think about road assets as resources which can be renewed. Collaboration between industry, policymakers, researchers, and technology providers are critical to enable an ecosystem for recycling. Through discussions like these Ammann aims to achieve this and make recycling an integral part of road construction in India.”

Experts highlighted the growing potential of RAP to reduce dependence on virgin raw materials while maintaining pavement quality and performance and shared interesting insights on how advanced RAP technologies can substantially reduce virgin aggregate consumption, lower fuel consumption and generate cost savings. Participants also discussed pathways to increase recycling rates in India through greater technology adoption, policy support, and industry awareness.

The seminar also highlighted the significant opportunities for recycling-led road construction in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where continued investments in transportation infrastructure are driving demand for advanced construction technologies.

Ammann India commands an estimated 50% market share across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and has supported several road infrastructure projects in the region. Through its technology portfolio and local presence, the company continues to work closely with contractors and project stakeholders to advance sustainable road construction practices.

At the national level, Ammann India remains at the forefront of asphalt recycling innovation.

The seminar concluded with a shared commitment from participants to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the adoption of recycling technologies, reinforcing the role of sustainable construction practices in meeting India’s growing infrastructure needs.

The collaboration will focus on next-generation ironmaking processes, low-carbon technologies, and efficient mineral utilization aligned with global sustainability goals. Key areas include green steel and low-emission ironmaking, beneficiation and value addition of critical minerals, process optimization, waste reduction, and circular economy practices in mining and metallurgy.

Through joint research projects, pilot studies, technology development, and knowledge exchange, the initiative seeks to accelerate industry-academia cooperation and enable faster commercialization of scalable, environmentally responsible industrial solutions.

The award ceremony was attended by senior leaders from GRID-INDIA and IIT Hyderabad, reflecting strong industry–academia collaboration. Implemented by SIIC, IIT Kanpur, the GIPSA programme follows a rigorous and transparent evaluation process to promote industry-relevant research. The initiative underscores GRID-INDIA’s commitment to nurturing young talent, fostering innovation and strengthening India’s journey towards a resilient and future-ready power sector.

TiHAN is a Technology Innovation Hub established under the Department of Science and Technology’s National Mission on Cyber Physical Systems, focusing on the development of autonomous navigation and data acquisition systems for ground vehicles, robots, unmanned aerial vehicles and other autonomous platforms. The MoU was signed by Shri Shobhan Chaudhuri, Advisor (R&D), DMRC, and Dr. Santosh Reddy, Hub Executive Officer, TiHAN, in the presence of Dr. Vikas Kumar, Managing Director, DMRCL, Shri Manuj Singhal, Director (Infrastructure), other DMRC directors, and senior faculty members from IIT Hyderabad, including Prof. Malla Reddy and Prof. P. Rajalakshmi.

The GIPSA initiative highlights GRID-INDIA’s commitment to nurturing research excellence and developing industry-ready solutions. Implemented by the SIDBI Innovation and Incubation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur, the awards follow a rigorous and transparent evaluation process. Nominations received from IITs, NITs and leading universities across the country showcased the vibrancy of India’s research ecosystem, with the selected scholars recognised for pioneering work in power systems and allied fields. The initiative aims to inspire young researchers while strengthening India’s transition towards an innovative, resilient and future-ready power sector.

The MOU was signed by Sh. Shobhan Chaudhuri Advisor / R&D from DMRC and Dr. Santosh Reddy Hub Executive Officer, TiHAN from IIT/Hyderabad in the presence of Dr. Vikas Kumar, MD/DMRCL along with Shri. Manuj Singhal Director / Infrastructure and other Directors from DMRC side and Prof. Malla Reddy, Dean/Innovation and Prof. P. Rajalakshmi from IIT/Hyderabad.

The inauguration was led by Dr Krishna Prasad Chigurupati, Chairman and Managing Director, Granules India, Mrs. Uma Chigurupati, Executive Director, Granules India Limited & Prof. B S Murty, Director, IITH.

Ascelis Center of Excellence for Peptide Development and Characterization, established under Ascelis Peptides, the CDMO arm of Granules, this Centre will drive the development of cosmetic, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical peptides. It is Ascelis’ first development and characterization facility in India and is equipped for primary, secondary, and tertiary structure characterization. The Center brings advanced analytical and process development capabilities in-house and will work in collaboration with our Swiss-based R&D facility Senn Chemicals, strengthening the group’s integrated global peptide offering and reducing reliance on external partners.

Granules Center of Excellence for Particle Engineering, This Centre will advance polymorph research, material science, and novel drug delivery systems, including amorphous solid dispersions. It replaces earlier external and ad-hoc development with a dedicated research platform that enables first-to-file opportunities, enhances formulation performance, and supports the creation of proprietary technologies for regulated markets.