By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
A two-day national workshop on the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), material science and cybersecurity for smart manufacturing concluded at Doon University on Saturday, highlighting the growing role of interdisciplinary research in advancing Industry 4.0 technologies.
The workshop, organised by Doon University under the prestigious Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) PAIR Project, brought together leading academicians, researchers, industry experts and students to discuss emerging technologies transforming the manufacturing sector.
The initiative is led by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, which is partnering with universities across the country to strengthen research capabilities and foster innovation. Doon University is the only participating Spoke Institution from northern India in the consortium.
The programme focused on key areas including artificial intelligence and machine learning, smart manufacturing, industrial internet of things (IIoT), cyber-physical systems, additive manufacturing, advanced materials, cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, digital twins and industrial simulation.
Experts noted that the integration of these technologies is enabling intelligent automation, improving operational efficiency and enhancing resilience in modern manufacturing systems.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor Doon University Prof. Surekha Dangwal highlighted the transformative potential of the ANRF-PAIR initiative and remarked, “The future of manufacturing lies at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Materials, and Cybersecurity which together form the foundation of Industry 4.0.
Prominent speakers included Prof. John Augustine, Prof. G.L. Samuel and Dr. Charchit Kumar from IIT Madras, along with Dr. Mayank Swarnkar of Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Dr. Ramesh Babu Battula of Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur and Bhupesh Janoti of the Data Security Council of India.
A key outcome of the collaboration has been research internships and training opportunities for Doon University students at IIT Madras, providing exposure to advanced laboratories and expert mentorship.
The workshop concluded with a commitment to deepen academic collaboration, student engagement and innovation-driven research under the ANRF-PAIR initiative.