Engineers India Limited (EIL) has entered a new leadership phase with Atul Gupta taking charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), effective March 1, 2026. He succeeds Vartika Shukla, who superannuated on February 28, 2026, concluding her tenure at the helm of the Navratna public sector enterprise.

Strategic Leadership Transition

Gupta’s appointment comes at a critical juncture as EIL continues to expand its operations and align with emerging priorities in energy, petrochemicals, and infrastructure development. His elevation reflects the company’s commitment to strengthening leadership in green energy, energy transition technologies, and sustainable industrial solutions.

Experience Driving EIL’s Growth

With extensive experience in commercial execution and project management, Atul Gupta is expected to drive the company’s long-term growth roadmap. His leadership will support EIL’s strategic initiatives across domestic and international projects, enabling the organization to deliver innovative, high-value solutions in key sectors of the economy.

Focus on Energy Transition and Green Initiatives

Under Gupta’s guidance, EIL aims to accelerate its focus on renewable energy and energy transition projects, reinforcing its position as a trusted engineering partner for large-scale industrial and infrastructure developments. His appointment signals a forward-looking approach as the company navigates opportunities in green technologies, sustainable energy, and global project execution.

Commitment to Excellence and Innovation

The leadership transition underscores EIL’s dedication to excellence, innovation, and stakeholder value creation. As reported by indianmasterminds.com, with Atul Gupta at the helm, the company is poised to leverage emerging market trends while maintaining its reputation as a Navratna public sector enterprise delivering world-class engineering solutions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries globally, but the biological sector is set to benefit the most, according to Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech. Speaking at the Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA) annual conference, he described biology as the arena where AI will drive the greatest scientific revolution of the next 25 years.

The Scale of the Biological Revolution

Ella illustrated the potential of AI in biology by highlighting the challenge of structural biology. “There are roughly two billion proteins in existence. Using traditional methods, it would take 2 million scientists between 200 and 300 years to fully characterize their structures. Advanced AI software like AlphaFold 3 and 4 can map all two billion proteins in just a single year,” he said. This example demonstrates how AI accelerates discovery, transforming tasks that were once impossible at scale into achievable scientific milestones.

AI’s Disruptive Impact on the Biological Sector

While public attention often focuses on consumer AI applications, Ella emphasized that biology is the true frontier for AI innovation. The sector is on the cusp of unprecedented disruption, reshaping healthcare, drug development, and biotechnology. He pointed out that AI’s predictive capabilities are already outperforming traditional physical chemistry methods. This is enabling faster and more accurate scientific outcomes.

Biosimilars and Commercial Shifts

Ella also warned that current biosimilars could be rendered obsolete within the next five years due to AI-driven advancements in molecular design. Highlighting global trends, he noted that China licensed $37 billion worth of monoclonal antibodies in a single year, likely leveraging AI to develop new molecules. “Artificial intelligence is already driving massive commercial shifts in biotech and pharmaceuticals,” he added.

A Call to the Software Industry

Ella urged the software sector to pivot toward health, biology, and translational sciences, emphasizing that the next major impact of AI lies in these areas. He argued that companies focusing solely on consumer applications are missing a major opportunity. They could instead help shape the future of medicine, drug discovery, and biotech innovation. As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, he said combining AI with biology can enable faster research and improve healthcare outcomes. It can also accelerate the next wave of scientific breakthroughs.

India needs to significantly expand its seaweed sector to fully unlock the potential of the country’s blue economy, said George Kurian, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Describing seaweed as a “sunrise sector,” the minister noted that India’s contribution to global seaweed production remains less than one percent, despite worldwide output exceeding 35 million tonnes annually. He stressed that the country must capitalise on this emerging marine bio-resource to strengthen economic growth and coastal livelihoods.

Kurian made these remarks while inaugurating a three-day international symposium on “Seaweeds: Value Chains, Climate Solutions and Blue Economy Pathways” at the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS).

Rapid Growth but Untapped Potential

Although India’s share in the global seaweed market remains small, the sector is expanding steadily. According to the minister, the industry is currently growing at around 9 percent annually. India’s seaweed production has increased significantly over the past decade, rising from 18,000 tonnes in 2015 to about 75,000 tonnes in 2024. However, Kurian pointed out that the country still has vast untapped potential.

He therefore called for greater investment in cultivation, value addition, and industry participation to scale up production and strengthen India’s presence in the global seaweed value chain. Since Asia currently accounts for nearly 97 percent of global seaweed production, he emphasised that India must enhance its capabilities to compete in this rapidly expanding marine bioeconomy sector.

Government Schemes Supporting Seaweed Farming

The government has already launched several initiatives to promote seaweed cultivation across coastal regions. Kurian highlighted the role of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana in encouraging seaweed farming and strengthening fisheries infrastructure.

Importantly, the scheme has supported community-based cultivation models, particularly those led by women. Successful initiatives in Ramanathapuram and Pudukottai districts of Tamil Nadu have demonstrated how seaweed farming can create sustainable livelihoods while promoting inclusive coastal development. These projects, he said, offer replicable models that can be expanded to other coastal regions of the country.

Towards a National Roadmap for 2047

During the event, A Biju Kumar, Vice Chancellor of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, said the symposium would play an important role in developing a national roadmap for the seaweed sector leading up to 2047. The roadmap will align with India’s broader vision of Viksit Bharat, which aims to transform the country into a developed economy by the centenary of independence. KUFOS, he added, is working with national and international partners to promote research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable value chains in seaweed resources.

Bridging Science and Industry

Meanwhile, Bijay Kumar Behera, Chief Executive of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration between research institutions and industry. He noted that KUFOS can play a key role in bridging the gap between scientific research and real-world applications, helping translate innovations in seaweed cultivation and processing into commercial opportunities. As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, by fostering partnerships among academia, government, and industry, India can accelerate the development of a sustainable and globally competitive seaweed sector, he added.

UK-based battery technology company Integrals Power successfully developed and manufactured a high-purity iron phosphate precursor at its UK facility, marking a significant step toward establishing a competitive Western supply chain for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

The company introduced a low-temperature synthesis route that significantly reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions while eliminating dependency on by-products. As a result, the process produces high-purity iron phosphate with tightly controlled particle characteristics, ensuring consistent quality for battery manufacturing. The development represents an important breakthrough because iron phosphate is the primary precursor used to produce lithium iron phosphate battery materials, a market currently dominated by China.

Alternative Supply Chain for LFP Battery Materials

Currently, most of the global supply of both iron phosphate and LFP cathode materials originates from China. By successfully producing iron phosphate in the UK, Integrals Power aims to help build localized supply chains across Europe, North America, and the UK.

To validate its technology, the company manufactured a wide range of iron phosphate material specifications and used them to develop cost-effective lithium iron phosphate cathode materials. Researchers then tested these materials at the cell level in collaboration with a leading UK university.

According to Integrals Power, the newly developed materials outperformed benchmark samples sourced from China in both quality and performance. At the same time, the materials remain cost-competitive with existing Chinese supply when measured on a $/kWh basis.

Reducing Dependence on China

Establishing localized production of battery materials has become increasingly important for Western markets. China currently dominates the global supply of key cathode materials, including iron phosphate and LFP.

In fact, China introduced export restrictions last year covering several battery-related technologies and materials. These restrictions include cathode active materials, LFP production technologies, and battery cells. By developing locally sourced raw materials and manufacturing processes, Integrals Power aims to strengthen supply chain security, sustainability, and transparency while reducing reliance on Chinese suppliers.

CEO Highlights Strategic Breakthrough

Behnam Hormozi, Founder and CEO of Integrals Power, emphasized the significance of the breakthrough. He explained that almost every LFP battery currently in use can trace its supply chain back to China. However, Integrals Power has spent several years developing a new approach that challenges this dependency.

According to Hormozi, the company’s new process rethinks iron phosphate manufacturing from the ground up. As a result, it delivers a cleaner and more energy-efficient production method while producing higher-quality material.

He noted that the breakthrough could form the foundation of a viable Western LFP supply chain, supporting critical sectors such as electric vehicles, grid energy storage, and the rapidly expanding data-center infrastructure powering artificial intelligence.

Continued Innovation in LFP Cathode Materials

Integrals Power has also patented several innovations across more than 20 cathode active materials, including lithium iron phosphate. These developments demonstrate that LFP chemistry still offers significant potential for improvement despite its maturity. In particular, LFP batteries remain attractive for applications where cost efficiency, safety, and durability are the most important factors.

By demonstrating that iron phosphate precursors can be commercially manufactured in the UK, Integrals Power has reinforced the potential for sovereign battery manufacturing capabilities in Western markets.

Next Phase

Looking ahead, Integrals Power plans to begin supplying iron phosphate and LFP samples to major OEMs, battery cell manufacturers, and strategic partners in the coming months. These samples will support structured validation programs designed to benchmark performance across multiple applications.

As per the press release, if the validation phase proves successful, the company will proceed with the next stage of commercial scale-up. This will involve expanding precursor and cathode production capacity to support long-term supply agreements and high-volume manufacturing across the UK, Europe, and North America.

Aarti Industries Limited announced a material amendment to its existing exclusive long-term supply agreement with a leading global chemical company. As part of the expanded partnership, the Mumbai-based specialty chemicals manufacturer will undertake a ₹200–250 crore backward integration project to strengthen its manufacturing capabilities. The initiative marks a strategic step toward greater operational integration, improved supply chain efficiency, and enhanced manufacturing resilience.

New Manufacturing Facility Planned in Dahej SEZ

Under the revised agreement, Aarti Industries will establish a manufacturing plant at its existing facility in Dahej Special Economic Zone, Gujarat. The facility will produce a critical feedstock in-house, replacing supplies previously provided by the company’s global customer. The investment will be deployed over the next two years, enabling Aarti Industries to strengthen control over the production value chain. The strategic move allows the company to transition toward a fully integrated, end-to-end manufacturing model for a high-value specialty chemical intermediate.

Leadership Perspective

Suyog Kotecha, CEO of Aarti Industries Limited, said the expansion reflects the confidence global partners place in the company’s manufacturing expertise. According to him, the deeper collaboration highlights Aarti Industries’ ability to deliver scalable, cost-competitive chemical solutions to international customers.

Strengthening India’s Role in Specialty Chemicals

Aarti Industries Limited currently ranks among the top four global producers in nearly 75% of its product portfolio. The company stated that the latest development aligns with its long-term strategy of positioning India as a global manufacturing hub for advanced specialty chemical solutions. As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, Aarti Industries plans to strengthen its global competitiveness through continued investments in integration, innovation, and capacity expansion. The company also aims to support the growth of India’s specialty chemicals sector.

Lonza Group AG, a global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), announced plans to establish a new Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad. The move marks a significant expansion of the company’s presence in India and reinforces the city’s growing status as a global life sciences hub.

Hyderabad Selected After Global Evaluation

Lonza selected Hyderabad as the location for its new GCC after conducting an extensive global evaluation process. The company identified the city as a preferred destination due to its strong talent pool, robust infrastructure, and supportive industrial ecosystem. The new centre will play an important role in strengthening Lonza’s global operations while tapping into India’s rapidly expanding life sciences and biopharmaceutical sector.

Boost to Telangana’s Life Sciences Ecosystem

According to Shakthi M. Nagappan, CEO of Telangana Life Sciences, the project represents another important milestone in the expansion of the state’s life sciences ecosystem. “This decision marks a significant step forward in the continued growth of Telangana’s life sciences sector. We look forward to working closely with Lonza to ensure the successful execution of this project and to enable long-term value creation,” he said.

The upcoming GCC is expected to integrate Hyderabad into the global biopharmaceutical value chain. As reported by thehindubusinessline.com, Lonza’s new facility will further strengthen Hyderabad’s position in the life sciences sector. The city is emerging as a major hub for biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation in India.

BMW Industries Limited partnered with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to secure piped natural gas (PNG) supply for its manufacturing facility in Bokaro, Jharkhand. The collaboration marks an important step in BMW Industries’ strategy to transition toward cleaner and more efficient energy sources in its manufacturing operations.

Agreement Formalised in Kolkata

Driving Energy Efficiency and Lower Emissions

By switching to piped natural gas, BMW Industries aims to improve energy efficiency, operational reliability, and environmental performance. Industries widely recognise natural gas as a cleaner fuel than traditional fossil fuels, helping them lower emissions and reduce their carbon footprint. The transition will support the company’s efforts to enhance operational performance. It will also align with its broader sustainability and responsible manufacturing goals.

Leadership Perspective

Harsh Bansal, Managing Director, BMW Industries Limited, said, “BMW Industries is pleased to partner with Indian Oil Corporation Limited for the supply of Piped Natural Gas. This partnership reinforces our commitment to sustainable industrial practices while strengthening our long-standing collaboration with leading public sector enterprises. It also supports our efforts to adopt cleaner and more efficient energy sources for our operations.”

Strengthening Sustainable Manufacturing in Steel Processing

BMW Industries Limited is a known player in India’s steel sector, specialising in downstream steel products and processing services. The company operates across multiple segments of the steel value chain, providing value-added processing solutions to major steel producers and industrial customers. As reported by projectstoday.com, BMW Industries has adopted piped natural gas at its Bokaro facility. This move strengthens its focus on sustainable manufacturing while improving operational efficiency.

The recent rally in crude oil prices could provide a significant boost to both upstream oil producers and oil marketing companies (OMCs) in India, according to a report by Kotak Institutional Equities. The brokerage noted that the surge in global oil prices is strengthening earnings prospects for upstream companies while also potentially improving marketing margins for OMCs, provided domestic fuel prices remain unchanged.

Brent Crude Rally Strengthens Upstream Earnings

The report highlights that Brent crude oil prices have climbed nearly 15% since early June, rising from around $74 per barrel to approximately $85 per barrel. This sharp increase is expected to directly benefit upstream oil producers by improving their realizations and profitability. These estimates assume no change in government levies on crude production. Kotak’s base-case scenario for ONGC already assumes an oil price of US$80 per barrel, meaning current price levels could offer additional upside.

Kotak Maintains Preference for Upstream Stocks

Despite ongoing volatility in global crude markets, the brokerage believes that higher oil prices clearly benefit upstream producers and may not significantly hurt OMCs in the short term.

As a result, Kotak Institutional Equities continues to favour upstream companies, particularly:

*Oil and Natural Gas Corporation

*Oil India Limited

As reported by msn.com, the brokerage notes that sustained crude price strength could further improve their earnings outlook in the coming quarters.

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (IVL), a global sustainable chemicals producer, has outlined its 2026–2028 business plan during its Annual Capital Markets Day (CMD) in Bangkok, Thailand. The roadmap emphasises disciplined execution, operational excellence, and value creation, building on the structural reset achieved under the company’s IVL 2.0 transformation strategy. Addressing analysts and investors, Group CEO Aloke Lohia highlighted how the company has strengthened its operational foundations. He added that its financial position has also been reinforced in preparation for the next phase of growth.

From VUCA to SOAR: A Strategic Shift

Under the IVL 2.0 framework, the company adopted the VUCA approach—Vision, Understanding, Clarity, and Agility—to reshape its operational strategy. Through this framework, management optimized the cost structure, enhanced balance sheet flexibility, and built a more resilient asset base. As a result, Indorama Ventures is now structurally stronger and better positioned to navigate the ongoing transformation of the global chemicals industry. Looking ahead, the company is transitioning to a complementary SOAR framework—Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results. This framework will guide its 2026–2028 strategy and value creation agenda.

“The difference between SOAR and VUCA lies in their psychological orientation,” said Aloke Lohia. “SOAR represents a mindset of possibility and internal aspiration, while VUCA reflects preparedness and external awareness. We must adopt both, and the level of satisfaction will be equally rewarding,” Lohia added.

Leaner Leadership and Stronger Governance

Earlier this year, Indorama Ventures restructured its senior leadership team to create a lean execution-focused management structure. This reorganisation enables the corporate leadership to act as an effective partner to its federated business segments. At the same time, the company has prioritised radical clarity in decision-making, improving accountability, strengthening capital discipline, and ensuring greater operational transparency. These measures aim to enhance earnings quality and long-term resilience.

Growth Strategy Without Reliance on Market Recovery

Notably, the company’s roadmap does not depend on a cyclical recovery in the chemicals sector. Instead, management has assumed that industry spreads will remain at the trough levels seen in 2025. Under this conservative scenario, the company plans to double EBITDA by 2028 through internal performance improvements. These include cost optimisation, tighter inventory management, and a more focused portfolio strategy.

Indovida Positioned as a Key Growth Engine

Indorama Ventures’ Indovida packaging business is expected to play a central role in the company’s future growth strategy. The business benefits from steady demand growth in food and beverage and personal care markets. Furthermore, strong customer relationships and operational integration provide a solid foundation for expansion across emerging markets.

Navigating a Decade of Industry Transformation

Reflecting on the company’s journey, Aloke Lohia noted that the past few years have been marked by unprecedented disruption across global industries. “Since our 30th anniversary in 2020, we have navigated a landscape of profound change—from the maturation of our core polyester business and crude oil volatility to global pandemics, geopolitical conflicts, and historic interest rate hikes,” he said. In response, Indorama Ventures launched IVL 2.0 in 2023, initiating a comprehensive strategic reset aligned with its board and the Indorama Management Council.

As reported by asiafoodjournal.com, the company plans to drive growth by strengthening higher-margin business platforms such as Indovinya, Indovida, and its shale-to-PET platform, while leveraging its ‘local for local’ operating model to respond more effectively to market volatility and supply chain disruptions.

Milliken & Company is presenting its comprehensive portfolio of next-generation polymer solutions at PLASTINDIA 2026, taking place in New Delhi, India from February 5–10. At the global plastics exhibition, the company is highlighting advanced technologies designed to improve polymer performance and support the evolving needs of the plastics industry.

During the event, Milliken is introducing new product innovations that represent the latest advancements in polymer enhancement. These technologies aim to help manufacturers develop high-quality plastic products while improving production efficiency and reducing material usage.

Driving Innovation Through Material Science

For more than six decades, Milliken has applied its expertise in material science to develop solutions that enhance resource efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. The company continues to focus on innovations that help plastics processors and converters optimize their manufacturing operations.

At this year’s PLASTINDIA exhibition, Milliken is spotlighting several product breakthroughs designed to enable manufacturers to achieve ambitious production targets. By improving product quality and boosting operational productivity, these solutions can support the industry’s transition toward more sustainable and efficient manufacturing practices.

Supporting India’s Expanding Plastics Industry

According to company leaders, PLASTINDIA 2026 reflects the rapid growth and transformation of India’s plastics sector. “PLASTINDIA 2026 reflects the momentum of India’s plastics industry,” said Wim Van De Velde, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Milliken’s plastic additives business. “We look forward to showcasing Milliken innovations that help converters use fewer resources while increasing operational efficiency.”

Focus on Efficiency and Sustainability

With growing demand for high-performance and sustainable plastics, Milliken’s latest innovations aim to help manufacturers balance productivity with resource efficiency. By integrating advanced polymer additives and materials technology, the company seeks to enable plastics processors to produce better products while reducing waste and energy consumption.

As reported by business-standard.com, through its participation in PLASTINDIA 2026, Milliken reinforces its commitment to driving innovation in polymer science and supporting the global plastics industry’s move toward more sustainable and efficient production.