Pune: The CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), Pune, commemorated National Technology Day 2025 with a focused celebration centered around the national theme YANTRA: Yugantar for Advancing New Technology, Research, and Acceleration.
The event underscored India’s growing emphasis on indigenous technological innovation and the integration of advanced technologies like AI and ML across industries.
Dr Ashish Lele, Director of CSIR-NCL, opened the event by welcoming the chief guest, Karthick R., Chief Manager – Innovation Centre, ONGC-MRPL, Mangalore. In his address, Dr. Lele highlighted the transformative role of emerging technologies in shaping India’s industrial and research landscape.
The keynote session by Karthick, titled “Deployment of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Applications to Improve Productivity in Petroleum Refining and Petrochemicals Industry,” captivated the audience with real-world use cases of AI and ML at MRPL. He emphasized the strategic shift from traditional data handling to knowledge-driven decision-making powered by big data and AI models.
Karthick showcased a successful case study from MRPL where AI/ML was used to resolve an odour issue in the final propylene product. Through Explainable AI and association mining, MRPL’s team pinpointed operational anomalies and implemented hybrid algorithmic solutions that are now patent-protected.
He also introduced MRPL’s Real-Time Condition Monitoring App, highlighting its ability to optimize plant performance through real-time analytics and predictive maintenance.
CSIR-NCL: Technological Excellence
The session concluded with an interactive Q&A and a formal vote of thanks. The celebration reaffirmed CSIR-NCL’s commitment to technological excellence and its pivotal role in promoting advanced research and industrial application of emerging technologies.
