CSIR-Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CEERI), Pilani, organised a three-day International Workshop jointly with Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, on “Terahertz Technology for Industrial Applications” from 3-5 October 2024. The workshop was mainly sponsored by the Indo-German Science and Technology Centre (IGSTC). The workshop commenced with the inaugural session on 3 October. Prof. Chandrasekhar, Senior Emeritus Professor, BITS Pilani and former Director, CSIR-CEERI, was the Chief Guest at the inaugural session. Prof. Shriganesh Prabhu from Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai; Prof. Hartmut Roskos from Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany; and Mr Saqib Sheikh from DST-IGSTC, India, were the Guests of Honour.
The Chief Guest, Prof. Chandrasekhar, described Terahertz Technology as one of the critical areas of electromagnetics and highlighted its importance by highlighting its immense possibilities in the fields of spectroscopy, medicine, etc. He also made the audience aware of the importance of organising such educational and research conferences regularly. The Guests of honour, Prof. Shriganesh Prabhu and Prof. Hartmut Roskos, also praised Dr Panchariya, Dr Niraj Kumar, and their team for organising this workshop on this important topic.
In their brief addresses, they emphasised the need for cooperation among reputed educational institutions and research organisations in research work. On this occasion, Mr Saqib Sheikh, while highlighting the background of R&D cooperation between India and Germany, said that this year is the golden jubilee year of cooperation between these two countries. Initially, Dr PC Panchariya formally welcomed the guests and made them aware of the major research areas of the institute. He said that through this workshop, strong scientific cooperation would be promoted between the two countries, leading to establishing coordination with the efforts being made at the global level in this important field.
Dr Anirban Bera, Chief Scientist and Chairman of the Organising Committee, gave information about the workshop and wished for its success. Dr Niraj Kumar, Principal Scientist and Indian Convener of this three-day international workshop gave detailed information about the technical sessions of the workshop.
During the inaugural session of the workshop, the guests also released the souvenir (abstract book) of the workshop. All the guests appreciated the souvenir. After the inaugural session, the technical sessions were held.
During the workshop, a total of 29 lectures were delivered in three technical sessions including a keynote lecture by the special guest and German coordinator, Prof. Hartmut Roskos, and several invited talks by other German and Indian scientists and learned experts on topics, such as terahertz imaging and medical applications of terahertz, its utility and importance in communications, spectroscopy, environmental monitoring, etc.
The workshop was organised with the objective of effectively exchanging knowledge among Indian and German scientists and strengthening joint research collaboration in this challenging technology in the future. Academicians, scientists, and researchers from several prestigious universities and research institutes from Germany and India participated in the workshop.
At the concluding session of this workshop, an MoU was signed between CSIR-CEERI and M/S ACST, Gmbh, Germany, for joint research and development collaboration between the countries. Also, an NDA was signed between CSIR-CEERI and M/S Toptica, Germany.
Dr PC Panchariya expressed his pleasure, mentioning that eminent scientists and academicians from both countries have come together on one platform through this workshop to discuss the industrial applications in this field. He also mentioned that the mutual scientific discussions provided insight to all the participants and research scholars about the research work being carried out in this field in both countries.
Finally, while proposing the vote of thanks, Dr Niraj Kumar said that this workshop would be a stepping stone for joint collaborative research in the area of Terahertz technology and will pave the way for progress in this field and its industrial applications, thereby giving a new direction to future scientific R&D in this area.
