Dr. B. C. Roy Engineering College (BCREC), Durgapur, inaugurated the 2nd IEEE International Conference on Computing, Intelligence and Applications (CIACON 2026) on 30 July 2026 at the Dulal Mitra Auditorium on its campus.

The two-day international conference, being held on 30 and 31 July 2026, has brought together eminent academicians, researchers, industry professionals, and students from across India and abroad to exchange innovative ideas and present cutting-edge research in the fields of computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, intelligent systems, and emerging technologies.

The inaugural ceremony was graced by several distinguished dignitaries, including Prof. Uday Bandyopadhyay, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Kazi Nazrul University (Chief Guest); Dr. Arun Bharadwaj, Founder & Chief Mentor, Happiness Technology and Former Director – APJ Alliances, Dell (USA) (Guest of Honour); Sri Anil Kumar Jain, Chief General Manager & Head of Project, DVC, Andal; Prof. Debasish De, Professor, MAKAUT and Representative of the IEEE Kolkata Section; Prof. Siddhartha Bhattacharyya, IEEE Computational Intelligence Society, Kolkata Chapter; Dr. Satyajit Bose, President, BCREC Society; Sri Tarun Bhattacharya, General Secretary, BCREC Society; Sri Jarnail Singh, Treasurer, BCREC Society; Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay S. Pawar, Principal, Dr. B. C. Roy Engineering College and General Chair, CIACON 2026; and Prof. Raj Kumar Samanta,HOD CSE, Organizing Chair, CIACON 2026.

The inaugural programme commenced with the traditional watering of a plant, symbolising growth, sustainability, and the nurturing of knowledge.

In his address, Prof. Uday Bandyopadhyay shared insights from his remarkable career journey, emphasizing the blending of medical science and engineering for the advancement of society. He highlighted that intelligence evolves through biological processes, and future technological innovations should draw inspiration from the principles of human biology and interdisciplinary research.

Dr. Arun Bharadwaj focused on the theme of human intelligence in the era of artificial intelligence. He discussed both the advantages and limitations of AI and stressed that AI should be used as a tool to augment human capabilities rather than replace them. He further explained how intelligent technologies can help address India’s major challenges in agriculture, healthcare, education, smart villages, and inclusive development.

The conference serves as a vibrant platform for interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strengthening academia–industry partnerships. It features keynote lectures by renowned experts, technical paper presentations, and discussions on the latest advancements and challenges in intelligent computing and its real-world applications.

CIACON 2026, being held on 30 & 31 July 2026 at the Dr. B. C. Roy Engineering College Campus, Durgapur, is expected to strengthen international research collaborations, encourage meaningful exchange between academia and industry, and inspire young researchers and students to pursue impactful innovations in computing, artificial intelligence, and intelligent systems.