ICTS

Generative AI and self-driving laboratories are changing how new materials are designed and developed. India has a growing community of researchers working at this frontier, but efforts so far have been few and isolated. The time is right to take stock of national capabilities and chart a coordinated path forward.

This meeting brings together experts across materials physics and chemistry, crystal growth, machine learning and generative AI, large language models, robotics and automation, and decision theory. The path from design to deployment runs through six steps: theoretical design, stability and property checks, synthesis, characterization, property measurement, and feedback to the models. Today these steps are largely disjoint and need human effort at each stage. Synthesis is the main bottleneck, and a central focus of the meeting is how to learn synthesis pathways for new materials.
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The meeting uses short talks followed by focused discussions. The talks set out what expertise each group brings toward the shared goal of an AI agent that can drive the whole process once a researcher sets the targets. The final session prepares a concept note on research directions for India over a 5 to 10 year horizon. This note will be shared with ANRF and DRDO.

Eligibility Criteria: The meeting is by invitation only. There is no open application.

Accommodation will be provided for outstation participants at our on campus guest house.

ICTS is committed to building an environment that is inclusive, non-discriminatory and welcoming of diverse individuals. We especially encourage the participation of women and other under-represented groups.