Venue for the event
CSIR - Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Chandigarh
Chandigarh, located 260 km northwest of New Delhi, serves as the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, situated at the foothills of the Shivalik Himalayas. This internationally renowned planned city was designed by Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier and represents one of the earliest post-independence urban planning experiments in India.
Sustainability Pioneer
Recognized as India's first solar city, Chandigarh has implemented comprehensive green initiatives including advanced waste management systems. With extensive open spaces, green belts, and parks, the city maintains exceptional air quality and serves as a model for pollution-free urban living. Its architecture features vernacular climate-control elements like sunshades, courtyards, and natural ventilation systems.
World Heritage Architecture
The Capitol Complex, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, houses government buildings separated by vast plazas and features Le Corbusier's iconic 26-meter Open Hand sculpture symbolizing "peace and reconciliation". Key attractions include Sukhna Lake, Asia's largest Rose Garden, and the innovative Rock Garden created from recycled materials.
Quality of Life Excellence
Chandigarh boasts one of India's highest per capita incomes and Human Development Index scores. LG Electronics ranked it India's happiest city in 2015, while BBC recognized it as one of the world's few successful master-planned cities. As Prime Minister Nehru envisioned: "a new town, symbolic of India's freedom, unfettered by past traditions, expressing faith in the future", Chandigarh embodies the innovative, sustainable development principles our conference promotes through AI and emerging technologies.