By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : August 13, 2025 10:51 am
The Summit deliberates the need of multi-dimensional approach to accelerate the momentum for sustainability, technology and innovation in India’s chemical industry
Godrej Industries Group (GIG) hosted the second edition of the ‘National Chemistry Day’ Summit. The theme of the summit was “Driving Innovation and Growth in India’s Chemical Industry”.
This joint initiative by GIG companies – Godrej Industries (Chemicals) and Astec LifeSciences, brings together industry, academia and research to delve deep into innovative trends and technology that are redefining the landscape of the Indian chemical industry.
Commenting on the summit, Nadir Godrej, Chairperson, Godrej Industries Group said,” Chemistry has always played a foundational role in shaping society. As we convene the second edition of National Chemistry Day, it is clear that meaningful, future-facing conversations are vital for unlocking India’s full potential in this space. This summit is our attempt to enable that - to spark dialogue, share ideas, and collaboratively explore how we can not only participate in the global chemical economy, but lead it responsibly and sustainably.”
The Summit witnessed experts of the industry brainstorming on key pertinent issues of the industry through two panel discussion.
Vishal Sharma, Executive Director and CEO of Godrej Industries (Chemicals), said: “The exchange of ideas at this year’s summit revolved around a shared imperative — for India’s chemical industry to build resilience not just through cost competitiveness, but by fostering knowledge, collaboration, and innovation. What resonated most across the discussions was the clear consensus that India must move beyond being seen as a backend producer and step up to lead from the front. Whether it’s strengthening in-house R&D, embracing green chemistry, or nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers, the conversations reflected a collective ambition to position India as a global hub for sustainable chemical manufacturing. It is this spirit of openness and shared purpose that will propel the sector forward.”
Burjis Godrej, Executive Director, Godrej Agrovet Ltd & Managing Director, Astec LifeSciences Ltd said, “Innovation in the chemical industry can no longer remain siloed within labs or R&D departments—it must become a mindset that runs across the entire value chain. What emerged clearly during discussions was a shared understanding that we must move beyond incremental gains towards transformative shifts. Strengthening industry-academia linkages, accelerating digital adoption, and building diverse, cross-functional R&D teams are no longer optional—they are vital for sustained global competitiveness. Forums like this are crucial in aligning perspectives, surfacing bold ideas, and reinforcing the urgency for collective action. If India is to lead on the global stage, we must evolve from being efficient executors to becoming originators of sustainable, scalable chemical innovations.”
Another highlight of this year’s summit was the launch of the inaugural edition of the CTIER Innovation Report titled “Industry in India: Followers or Leaders?” which provides a data-driven assessment of how leading Indian R&D firms compare to their global counterparts across critical innovation parameters.
The summit witnessed participation from prominent industry leaders, academic experts, and research professionals including Padma Vibhushan Prof. M.M. Sharma; Dr. Naushad Forbes, Co-Chairperson, Forbes Marshall; Amit Gandhi, Managing Director and Senior Partner, BCG India; Aashish Kasad, Senior Partner, Ernst & Young; Vivek Save, Executive Director and Board Member, Deccan Fine Chemicals; Prof. Santosh J. Gharpure, Dean (Faculty Affairs) and Professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Bombay; Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch, Chairman, MD & CEO, Bayer CropScience Ltd.; Janak Nabar, CEO, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Economic Research; Aman Das, Country Manager and MD, Head, Syensqo India; Nitin Sharma, CEO and General Manager, Clariant IGL Specialty Chemicals Pvt. Ltd.; Dr. Alok Sharma, Director (R&D) and Board Member, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.; and Sunil Kumar, President, Henkel India.