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The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) India inaugurated the second edition of its flagship International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE) India 2026 at the Chennai Trade Centre. Being held from September 3–5 under the theme “Engineering a Sustainable Future,” the three-day congress brings together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, academia, MSMEs, startups and students to discuss technologies, partnerships and talent required to support India’s next phase of industrial growth. The event is expected to host over 3,000 delegates, 600 speakers, 900 papers and 75 exhibitors.
Speaking at the inauguration, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu Thiru. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar emphasised the importance of sustainability and self-reliance, calling for engineering and innovation to be directed towards the welfare of humanity. Thomas Costabile, Executive Director and CEO, ASME, said India is emerging as a critical centre for advanced manufacturing, energy, mobility and digital innovation, adding that IMECE India 2026 provides a platform for global expertise and Indian innovation to address industrial challenges of global significance. Anand Sethupathy, Chief Strategy Officer, ASME, highlighted nuclear energy, deep-ocean technologies, aerospace, defence and AI-enabled engineering as key areas shaping India’s industrial future.
The congress will feature discussions on nuclear manufacturing, the blue economy, aerospace and defence, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, digital twins and data-driven engineering. Madhukar Sharma, President and Director, ASME India, said Chennai’s strong legacy in mechanical engineering, manufacturing and technical education makes it an ideal host city for the event. Dr. K. Shanmuga Sundaram, Congress Chair and Director, Centre for University-Industry Collaboration, Anna University, said the congress will strengthen collaboration between industry, academia, government, researchers, startups and students, while promoting innovation and industry-academia partnerships.