ICAN 2026 at Chitkara University: A Front-Row Seat to Where AI Research Is Heading

Not long ago, talking about artificial intelligence in an academic setting felt almost futuristic. Now it feels urgent. Students are choosing careers around it, companies are changing because of it, and researchers across the world are trying to understand it better. That urgency came to Chitkara University on 15 and 16 May 2026, when ICAN 2026 brought together more than 300 delegates from 16 countries for two days of research, discussion, and new ideas.

The sixth edition of ICAN 2026, Chitkara University’s international conference on AI-driven computing, analytics, and networks, received 858 research paper submissions from India, the USA, Japan, Finland, Singapore, Malaysia, Egypt, and other countries. After a detailed peer-review process, 220 papers were selected and presented across 36 technical sessions. The acceptance rate was low enough to match the standards of many respected academic journals.

Two keynote sessions especially caught the attention of students. Dr. Sudatta Kar, VP and Head of Engineering at Capgemini Engineering India, spoke about the need to build AI systems that remain useful and reliable even as the world keeps changing. In the second keynote, Dr. Sudarsun Santhiappan spoke about a concern many students already have. How do you prepare for a technology that may begin as a tool, become a partner, and eventually turn into competition?
It is not the kind of question with a simple answer, which is exactly why conversations like these matter. On the publishing side, Springer Nature was the official publication partner for ICAN 2026. Researchers who presented their work at the conference can submit extended versions to Springer Nature journals. For early-career researchers, this offers a credible opportunity to build their academic profile.

For students and parents looking at universities, events like this can say a lot about the academic environment. It is one thing for a university to include AI in its curriculum. It is another to host an international conference where researchers from 16 countries present peer-reviewed work and interact with industry experts about where the field is heading.
ICAN has been running since 2017 and has continued to grow with each edition. For students considering Chitkara University for engineering or technology programs, what happened on campus on 15 and 16 May offers a clear picture of the kind of academic environment they can expect.

ABOUT CHITKARA UNIVERSITY 

Chitkara University is a UGC-recognised and NAAC A+ accredited private university with campuses in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, recognised among India's leading institutions by NIRF, QS World University Rankings, and Times Higher Education. It offers UG and PG programs across Engineering, Business, Healthcare, Pharmacy, Design, Architecture, Hospitality, and emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Machine Learning.

The University's academic model integrates internships, live industry projects, and research into core curricula, supported by 2,000+ campus recruiters and 300+ international academic and industry partners. 
In partnership with famous US, Australia and Canadian universities, there are Global Pathway programs for students to complete part of their degree abroad.  With a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and applied learning, Chitkara University prepares graduates for careers in India and internationally.

Note: The views expressed in this article are of Chitkara University and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha.