Dr. Komal Kapoor
(Message from the President's Desk)
Dear esteemed members of IIM,
Namaste and warm greetings to each one of you.
Stepping into the role of President of The Indian Institute of Metals (IIM) for 2026–27 fills me with deep humility, immense pride, and a profound sense of responsibility. I am truly moved by your warmth, support, and the incredible trust you have placed in me to lead our historic institution.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the leaders who came before me. Their brilliant vision, remarkable leadership, and steady guidance have shaped IIM into the dynamic organization it is today, consistently setting new benchmarks for academic excellence and industry outreach.
We are taking this journey together at a truly historic moment. India's booming manufacturing base, ambitious renewable and nuclear energy targets, rapidly growing electric mobility ecosystem and semiconductor aspirations are opening doors we could only imagine a few years ago. At the same time, we are witnessing a paradigm shift as emerging breakthroughs—like artificial intelligence for
advanced extraction, digital twins, robotics, and smart materials—redefine what is possible.
In this rapidly evolving era, IIM serves as an important forum where industry, research, and academia connect and collaborate. To steer this organization forward successfully, we need the collective wisdom of our entire community. Ensuring wider representation in our leadership, the council slate for 2026–27 is shaped keeping inclusivity in mind.
My vision is to transform the Indian Institute of Metals (IIM) into a core catalyst for India’s strategic and economic growth, driven by five key pillars:
Enhancing IIM’s visibility: India is seeing a massive rise in talented professionals, and I believe IIM should naturally expand to reflect this incredible growth. By actively stepping onto bigger national and international stages, we will ensure our institute gets the widespread recognition and influence it truly deserves.
Academic–industries interface: Let’s look at IIM as the bridge connecting academia and industry. As our professional landscape expands, it is more critical than ever that our R&D labs, academic institutions, and manufacturing plants walk hand in hand. Most importantly, IIM can be the collaborative hub where industry feels supported: they can bring their practical problems and connect with academic experts, research labs, and experienced professionals who can solve them.
Chapter-centric approach: Our chapters are the foundational building blocks of the Indian Institute of Metals. For the all-round, holistic growth of IIM, every chapter must advance in tandem, leaving no region behind. I am personally committed to injecting fresh momentum into local chapter activities. Furthermore, by fostering robust inter-chapter interactions, we will build a highly connected network that multiplies our capacity to host technical programs and cross-sectoral initiatives.
Empowering student participation: Building on the excellent groundwork laid by my predecessors, we will aggressively scale and empower our Student Chapters. We will institutionalise structured mentorship, joint research initiatives, and industrial internship pipelines. By deeply integrating our younger members with leading R&D laboratories and corporate giants, we ensure a future-ready workforce for the materials and metallurgical sectors.
Expanding Our Global Footprint: One of our key priorities must be strengthening our ties with sister metallurgical societies across the globe. Actively collaborating with these international bodies will significantly elevate IIM's presence on the world stage. Most importantly, it will connect our members with global innovations and emerging trends, enriching our collective knowledge and accelerating our growth as a world-class institution.
As our nation marches through AmritKaal toward the goal of a developed and self-reliant India, our success rests entirely upon our collective efforts and a shared vision. By advancing the frontiers of metallurgy and materials science, the Indian Institute of Metals will directly serve both our nation and the world. Your unwavering support, expertise, and dedication will be the defining catalysts in achieving our ambitious roadmap. Together, let us ensure that IIM stands at the absolute forefront of national growth, driving the breakthroughs that will anchor a manufacturing-led, Viksit Bharat.
Thank you, and I look forward to an incredible year ahead.
(K. Kapoor)
President, IIM&
Chief Executive, NFC
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