On January 20th, Kolkata hosted the XXVII International Congress on Glass (ICG 2025). The famous event was organized by the CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI) and took place at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre until January 24th.

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, graced the inauguration ceremony. Also gracing the event was Prof. Hiroyuki Inoue, President, ICG & Professor, University of Tokyo, Japan, Prof. Reinhart Conradt, Immediate Past President, ICG & Uniglass AC GmbH, Germany, Prof. Manoj Choudhary, Former President, ICG and Adjunct Professor, The Ohio State University, USA and Prof. Alicia Duran, Former President, ICG and Research Professor, CSIC, Instituto de Cerámica y Vidrio, Madrid, Spain. This marks a significant achievement for CGCRI, which previously hosted the ICG in 1986.

Glass is widely regarded as a transformative material, helping to achieve around 11 of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Recognizing its importance to human progress, the United Nations General Assembly designated 2022 as the International Year of Glass, the first time a substance has been recognized in this manner in UN history. Glass’s ability to address major global challenges, such as climate change, emphasizes its importance in sustainable development.

The conference included 12 symposia on various themes in glass science and technology. ICG 2025 focused on the theme “Glass: A Smart and Sustainable Material”, emphasizing the revolutionary potential of future technologies in changing glass applications in a variety of industries. A prominent highlight of the event was a massive exhibition of breakthrough goods and technology from the world’s premier glass companies, research organizations, and professional associations.

The Congress welcomed nearly 550 delegates, including 150 international participants from 20 nations. Eminent researchers, academicians, industry leaders, young faculty members, and students were among the notable attendees. The event will feature 11 plenary speakers, 22 keynote speakers, and 94 invited speakers who will provide informative presentations. Furthermore, there were around 140 poster presentations and 111 contributing presentations.

Priyanka Dutta