Joint Indo-US Workshop on Futuristic Manufacturing at IIT Kanpur, March 22-24, 2004

The first Indo-US Workshop on "Futuristic Manufacturing" was held at IIT Kanpur from 22nd to 24th March, 2004. About 68 scientists and technologists from USA and India took part in the event. 6 students from other IIT's and IISc also attended. The programme was completely funded by the Indo-US Science & Technology Forum, New Delhi.

The basic theme of the event was the emerging techniques for shaping of objects based on microfabrication, generative manufacturing and self-assembly. In the not-too-distant future, the whole manufacturing processes will depend on creative combinations of such techniques thereby mimicking biological "manufacturing" processes. To achieve such a synthesis of "hard" and "soft", "wet" and "dry" materials and methods, scientists and technologists from across the fields of Chemistry, Physics, Material Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering have to work together. The symposium also reflected a healthy mix of disciplines in its participants and themes.

The delegates from USA were from leading universities with strong manufacturing related research groups and quite a few of them are leaders in MEMS, Self Assembly and Microfabrication. Similarly, the speakers from India were selected for their very visible research and expertise in these areas, so as to produce a good match between the US and Indian delegates. The US delegates and many of the Indian delegates arrived on 21st and the rest of the outstation delegates reached Kanpur on 22nd March. Indian outstation delegates were from other IIT's, IISc, CEERI Pilani, CSIO Chandigarh, CMERI Durgapur, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Calcutta and leading industries like BHEL and Hindustan Lever R & D. The technical sessions consisted of state-of-the-art lectures by leading experts in the general sessions. The current research activities were presented in two parallel sessions. The third day consisted of the laboratory visits and thematic group discussions. In the last session the leaders of the three groups presented the points for final recommendations. It was felt necessary that the researchers with interest in the areas of "Futuristic Manufacturing" should be identified and the joint work should be continued through exchange visits, collaborative projects and joint workshops.

LML India and Bergen Associate Ltd sponsored an excellent Odissi Dance programme by the famous group led by Mrs. Sharmila Biswas of Calcutta for the delegates. This event as well as the campus and laboratory tours and other meetings in informal settings outside the lecture rooms also greatly helped in the bonding of the US and Indian group and exposed the participants to the substantial infrastructure and activities at IIT Kanpur. Thus, several of the US and Indian delegates have shown keen interest in setting up collaborations, which will be pursued.