Kathua, 12.11.2025: A 3 day Conference-cum-Workshop on “AI-Driven Innovations in Drug Discovery and Agriculture (AI-D2A 2025)” commenced here today at BIRAC-BioNEST Incubator, Industrial Biotech Park, Ghatti, Kathua, under the aegis of CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, BIRAC–BioNEST Incubator and CSIR–Jigyasa.
Dr. P.C. Panchariya, Director, CSIR–CEERI Pilani, inaugurated the event as Chief Guest whileas as Dr. Surinder Kumar Atri, Principal, GMC Kathua was the guest of honour. Dr. Panchariya whileas addressing the delegates underscored the transformative potential of AI in advancing drug discovery and agricultural research. He highlighted how AI-driven innovations can accelerate scientific breakthroughs, optimize processes, and contribute to sustainable development in healthcare and agriculture. He also shared the CSIR-CEERI’s path breaking achievements in making of semi-conductor devices, electronic tongue, adulteration detection sensors for dairy and edible oils.
Dr. Atri, the guest of honour, mentioned that AI is being used in various areas of medicine, such as radiological diagnosis, assisting physicians in decision making. He said that he is looking forward to closer integration with CSIR-IIIM, Jammu and BIRAC-BioNEST incubator at Kathua, to explore and develop these areas further.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR–IIIM Jammu, stated, “This event is designed to promote every type of innovation in this area. AI-based tools are now becoming an integral part of drug discovery and agricultural practices”. He added that CSIR-IIIM, a premier R&D institution with strength in the drug discovery and crop improvement, has adopt the integration of AI tools to fasten the research, improvement of varieties of medicinal and aromatic plants besides the capacity building and said, “the conference provides a unique opportunity for skill development, capacity building, and entrepreneurship promotion among all stakeholders”.
“Hosting it at the Biotech Park makes it even more significant—not just for participants, but also for the surrounding community—motivating them to engage with science and technology,” he said.
Dr. Zabeer Ahmed also thanked the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, and Department of Space, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, and Vice President CSIR, which was essential in building the Industrial Biotech Park at Kathua and making it fully functional. It is noteworthy that just last month Hon’ble Union Minister Dr, Jitendra Singh had launched the BioNEST Incubation centre as well as vocational training programs at this centre.
A spokesperson informed that a total of 75 participants from all over India have registered for the workshop and 15 participants from GDC Kathua and Jammu University, Kathua Campus were provided free registration for the course.
Earlier, Organising Secretary, Dr. Amit Nargotra, Principal Scientist & Group Leader Discovery Informatics Lab, NPMC Division, underlined the potential of AI in transforming drug discovery and agriculture, stressing that the conference aims to foster innovation, collaboration, and skill development. He highlighted, “The AI–D2A conference serves as a platform to nurture innovation, facilitate collaboration, and create opportunities for students, startups, and researchers, while showcasing India’s growing capabilities in AI-driven biotechnology and agriculture”.
Organisers said that AI-D2A 2025 would feature technical sessions, keynote talks, interactive discussions, hands-on workshops and practical demonstration sessions through next three days. The sessions will focus on the use of AI tools to accelerate drug discovery, enhance crop productivity, and develop data-driven agricultural models. AI-D2A 2025 will offer a dual experience — conceptual sessions on AI applications in biological research, along with practical training modules demonstrating how machine learning can assist in molecular design, compound screening, and Agri-data analytics.
Day one of the conference featured sessions on AI models for genomics and transcriptomics, AI-driven cheminformatics for anticancer drug discovery, multidimensional AI strategies for therapeutics, and machine learning frameworks for predicting molecular interactions.
The conference is being live-streamed on CSIR–IIIM’s social media platforms, ensuring wider participation from students, researchers, and professionals unable to attend in person. The virtual sessions have already witnessed strong engagement, reflecting the growing interest in AI applications in science and agriculture.
The conference-cum-workshop has been organized under the patronage and overall supervision of Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, Jammu, with support from HoDs of Scientific and Administrative Divisions of CSIR-IIIM and members of organizing committee, including the convener Dr. Amit Nargotra, Dr. Saurabh Saran, Er. Abdul Rahim, Dr. Asha Chaubey, Dr. Shashank Singh, Dr. Sumit Gandhi, Dr. Qazi Naveed Ahmed, Dr. Rajkishor Rai, Rajesh Gupta, Zahoor Wani, Ram Singh, Dr. Prasoon Gupta, Dr. Parvinder Pal Singh, Dr. Bhahwal Ali Shah, Er. Shaghaf Ansari, and Monika Gupta. The proceedings of inaugural event was conducted by Dr. Vidushi Abrol and Dr. Saurabh Saran presented the formal vote of thanks.
