Godrej Industries Group (GIG) is all set to host the second edition of the National Chemistry Day Summit on August 8, 2025. Spearheaded by GIG’s companies—Godrej Chemicals and Astec LifeSciences—the summit is a flagship initiative that brings together leading voices from industry and academia to explore innovations reshaping modern chemistry in India.
Honouring a Legacy: Celebrating National Chemistry Day
August 2nd marks the birth anniversary of Sir Prafulla Chandra Ray, a pioneering Indian chemist, industrialist, historian, and philanthropist. Widely recognised as the Father of Indian Chemistry, Sir Ray laid the foundation for India’s first modern research school in chemistry. In his honour, the National Chemistry Day Summit was launched by GIG in 2024, creating a platform to celebrate scientific excellence and innovation in the chemical sciences.
This Year’s Theme: Driving Innovation and Growth
The 2025 summit will be themed “Driving Innovation and Growth in India’s Chemical Industry.” It aims to spotlight transformative ideas that can power India’s rise as a global chemical manufacturing hub. The event will feature three impactful keynote addresses by:
*Padma Vibhushan Prof. M.M. Sharma
*Dr. Naushad Forbes, Co-Chairperson, Forbes Marshall
*Amit Gandhi, MD & Senior Partner, Chemicals Practice, BCG India
Power-Packed Panels to Shape Industry Dialogue
The summit’s highlight will be two high-profile panel discussions that delve into:
*Building Global Competitiveness in India’s Chemical Industry
*R&D as a Catalyst for Industry Growth
Panel 1: Unlocking India’s Global Edge in Chemical Manufacturing
Vishal Sharma, ED & CEO, Godrej Industries (Chemicals), will moderate the panel discussion on building India’s global competitiveness. Speaking ahead of the summit, Sharma stated, “With global demand rising for specialty chemicals and green chemistries, India is gaining recognition as an alternative manufacturing hub. Our strong talent base, favourable policy framework, and cost efficiency offer unmatched potential. This panel will explore how we can leverage these strengths to establish India as a chemical manufacturing powerhouse.”
Panel participants include:
*Amlan Das, Country Manager & MD, Syensqo India
*Nitin Sharma, CEO & GM, Clariant IGL Specialty Chemicals Pvt. Ltd
*Dr. Alok Sharma, Director (R&D) & Board Member, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd
*S. Sunil Kumar, President, Henkel India
Panel 2: R&D – The Engine of India’s Chemical Growth
Burjis Godrej, Executive Director, Godrej Agrovet Ltd & MD, Astec LifeSciences Ltd, will lead the second panel on the growing role of R&D in driving sectoral transformation. He commented, “There’s a clear shift in customer expectations—from standard solutions to more sustainable, tailored innovations. To meet this, our industry must invest more in R&D and rethink how we deliver value. This panel will showcase strategies to make R&D a driving force behind the next wave of growth.”
Featured speakers include:
*Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch, Chairman, MD & CEO, Bayer CropScience Ltd
*Vivek Save, Executive Director & Board Member, Deccan Fine Chemicals
*Santosh J. Gharpure, Dean (Faculty Affairs) & Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, IIT Bombay
*Aashish Kasad, Senior Partner, Ernst & Young
*Janak Nabar, CEO, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Economic Research (CTIER)
CTIER Innovation Report to Be Unveiled
The event will also witness the launch of the inaugural CTIER Innovation Report titled:
“Industry in India: Followers or Leaders?” The landmark study evaluates India’s top R&D-performing firms against global benchmarks. The report aims to help industry leaders identify opportunities to enhance competitiveness through stronger R&D investment, digital integration, and cross-disciplinary team building.
Building Bridges for Innovation-Led Growth
By bringing together academia, industry leaders, and policymakers, the National Chemistry Day Summit creates a vital space for collaborative thinking and cross-pollination of ideas. The event reaffirms Godrej Industries Group’s commitment to advancing India’s chemical industry through innovation, sustainability, and strategic partnerships. As per the press release, as India aspires to lead the future of chemical manufacturing, this summit provides the spark to drive meaningful conversations—and actions—that can transform the sector from within.
