The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, is organising the Underwater Robotics Workshop (UWR-2026) on 1st and 2nd June 2026 at NIOT, Chennai.
The workshop aimed to bring together researchers, academicians, industry experts, policymakers, students, and stakeholders working in the field of ocean technologies and underwater robotics. Around 300 delegates from across the country participated in the event.
To strengthen efforts in underwater robotics development, the Centre for Marine Autonomous Robotics Systems (CMARS) was inaugurated by Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, National Maritime Security Coordinator, and Dr. M. V. Ramana Murthy, Mission Director, Deep Ocean Mission, in the presence of Dr. Balaji Ramakrishnan, Director, NIOT. The centre will serve as a dedicated hub for advancing marine autonomous and robotic technologies.
Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface and play a vital role in sustaining life and supporting economic growth. Recognizing the importance of ocean exploration and marine resource mapping, India has been actively advancing indigenous underwater technologies for applications in ocean observation, deep-sea exploration, transportation, surveillance, resource assessment, and sustainable blue economy initiatives.
Over the past two decades, NIOT has been at the forefront of developing state-of-the-art underwater systems and technologies under the aegis of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The workshop served as a national platform to discuss recent advancements, emerging challenges, research opportunities, infrastructure requirements, and collaborative pathways in underwater robotics and autonomous systems.