Mysore/Mysuru: National Technology Day was celebrated at CSIR-CFTRI with the theme ‘Responsible Innovation for Inclusive Growth’, in city recently. The programme highlighted the importance of technology-driven innovations in addressing societal and industrial needs.

A. Apparao, Managing Director, CEC Flavours and Fragrances Pvt. Ltd., who was the Chief Guest, delivered the Technology Day address.

Recalling his long association with CFTRI, he stated that the short-term courses offered by the institute had played a significant role in shaping his professional journey. He observed that industries are increasingly looking for innovative technologies to meet the ever-growing demands of consumers.

Speaking on advancements in the flavour industry, Apparao said that precision and personalisation are no longer buzzwords but have become realities in the sector. He noted that flavour technology today can recreate highly complex profiles ranging from mother’s milk to fish eggs.

He also highlighted the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in decoding complex flavour profiles to ensure the authenticity of raw materials. Further, he spoke about recent advancements in identifying the ripening stages of mangoes through stripe analysis technologies.

Dr. Aashitosh A. Inamdar, Scientist-G and Head, TTBD, briefed the gathering about the significance of National Technology Day and presented an overview of CFTRI’s industry engagements during 2025–26.

Presiding over the programme, Dr. Giridhar Parvatam, Director, CSIR-CFTRI, said that technology transfer acts as a transformational process for industries by helping understand and address their requirements effectively.

He emphasised that CFTRI continues to extend support to industries through sponsored projects and consultancy services. He also appreciated the efforts of the CFTRI teams in developing technologies that have significantly benefited the food industry.

Dr. Giridhar further stressed that R&D works that could not progress beyond certain Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) should be revisited on priority, as they could open up new dimensions in research and innovation.

The event witnessed exchange of license agreements and distribution of certificates to members of the S&T team. Staff members, research scholars and students participated in the programme.