AI Can Accelerate Industrial Decarbonisation, but Scaling Solutions Requires Industry–Academia Collaboration, Say Experts at Bangalore Climate Data Week

Bengaluru, 15 October 2026: Artificial intelligence can accelerate industrial decarbonisation, but translating its potential into measurable impact will require stronger industry–academia collaboration,workforceskilling,enablinginfrastructureandwideradoptionofdeployment-ready climate-tech solutions. This was a key takeaway from the Industry Net Zero Innovation Summit 2026: AI Edition, organised by Climate Collective Foundation through its Climate Challenges initiative, as part of Bangalore Climate Data Week.

HeldatSabha,Bengaluru,thesummitbroughttogetherindustryleaders,technologyexperts, climate-tech startups and ecosystem stakeholders to explore how AI can help industries improve operational efficiency, reduce emissions and advance their net-zero goals.

At the fireside chat, Building the Industry-Academia Interface for Industrial Decarbonisation, Ankur Gandotra, Head of Industry-Academia Partnerships at the Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM), highlighted the need to bridge the gap between academic research and industrialrequirements.ThediscussionwasmoderatedbyDr.SameerGuduru,SeniorDirector, Strategic Technologies & States Engagement, U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC).

The summit also explored the role of international partnerships in accelerating industrial decarbonisation. During the fireside chat, Reimagining Global North-South Partnerships for Industrial Decarbonisation, Rishi Nair, Senior Specialist – Energy Transition at Climate Collective Foundation, Dr. Alexander Fisher, Director, International Climate Initiative Interface India,andAkankshaSharma,HeadofClimateTechandDigitalUtilitiesattheGSMAssociation (GSMA), discussed the importance of local context and collaboration in developing climate solutions.

A central highlight of the summit was the debate, AI is an Accelerator of Industrial Decarbonisation, which examined both the opportunities and limitations of AI in driving the industrialtransition.ThepanelfeaturedAlexanderHogeveenRutter,ElectricitySectorLeadand

Manager of Research & Diligence at Third Derivative; Dr. Rahul Walawalkar, Founder and President of the Net-Zero Energy Transition Association (NETRA); Vijay Balakrishnan, Executive Vice President and Chief Digital & Information Officer at Godrej & Boyce; Avnish Kumar, Founder and CEO of LivNSense; and Swetha Ramdas, Climate and Sustainability Strategy Leader and former APAC & AMET Sustainability Leader at Amazon. The debate was moderated by Nalin Agarwal, Co-founder of Climate Collective Foundation. Speakers for the motion argued that AI can transform Scope 1 and 2 reductions once data is accurate, with near-term gains needing little capex and materials discovery already shrinking from years to months.Speakersagainstcounteredthatgainssofarareincremental(andpronetorebound), thatAIhasyettoproveitselfinclimatesolutionsdiscovery,andthatitdrawscapitalawayfrom the physical problems of cement and steel.

The programme also featured startup showcases, including Resilience AI and LivNSense, highlightinginnovationrelevanttoindustrialdecarbonisation.Roundtablediscussionsaddressed high-priority research areas for industry and the application of digital twins to industrial decarbonisation and beyond, exploring how simulations and data-driven insights can inform

real-worldaction.

Asindustriesnavigatethetransitiontonetzero,thediscussionsreinforcedaclearmessage:AI can be a powerful accelerator, but its impact will depend on the strength of the ecosystem around it—including collaboration between industry and academia, skilled talent, access to capital,appropriateinfrastructureandtheabilitytomovepromisingtechnologiesfromvalidation to deployment.

Climate Drinks for Women in Data and Climate, hosted byClimate Collective FoundationunderitsWomeninClimateEntrepreneurshipinitiative,inpartnershipwith Omnivore, brought together women leaders and allies from the climate-tech and

agri-food innovation ecosystems working at the intersection of data and climate.

JuiJoshi,FoundingTeam,ClimateCollectiveFoundation,highlightedtheevening’srole in fostering open conversations, peer exchange and meaningful connections among participants working towards a more inclusive and ambitious climate transition.

“ForOmnivore,buildingastrongecosystemforwomenentrepreneursisasimportantas investing in them” says Sanskriti Kapoor, VP – ESG and Impact , Omnivore .

She Wins Climate – South Asia: Startup Showcase 2026 marked the culmination of thenine-month,equity-freeSheWinsClimateSouthAsiaAccelerator,supportedbythe International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Government of Canada and the Government of Australia, and implemented by MicroSave Consulting (MSC) and Climate Collective Foundation (CCF). The programme supported 26 women-led climate-tech startups across regions spanning sectors including renewable energy,

circulareconomy,climateadaptation,foodandagriculture,mobility,urbaninfrastructure, industrial decarbonisation and carbon solutions.