Overall Contribution

·      Professor Pal has high-impact research achievements in a huge number of publications and patents. He has supervised many doctoral scholars, presently active researchers in IITs, NITs, and CSIR Lab. He has executed sponsored and consultancy projects worth over INR 106 Cr.

·      He has developed solutions for various industries, including a “Remote Monitoring and Real Time Control of Defects in Friction Stir Welding Process” for Tata Consultancy Services Limited, “Artificial Intelligence enabled weld defect identification and classification system” for Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd, and “Machine learning based exhauster health monitoring and prediction system” for Research & Development Centre for Iron & Steel (RDCIS) SAIL, Ranchi.

·      He was instrumental in setting up Steel Technology Centre as Co-PI. He also served as the Chairman, focusing on industry-academia collaborative projects on rolling, characterization for various steel industries.

·      He created single-handedly a state-of-the-art Friction Stir Welding (FSW) laboratory with world-class infrastructure in diverse areas of FSW catering researchers of IITs, NITs, IIEST, State-Govt universities regularly even University of Johannesburg, South Africa.

·      He established the Metrology laboratory at IIT Kharagpur, and it remains an integral part of the undergraduate curriculum to this day.

·      Under his leadership (as Professor-in-Charge and then Chairperson), IIT Kharagpur has recently set up an industry-focused consortium-driven interdisciplinary research centre, “Centre of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing Technology”, with the support from the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and top-notch industry bodies executing niche research problems of Tata Motors, Tata Sons, TCS, Tata Steel, BHEL, and HEC to substitute import and promoting “Make-in-India”. In addition, a Start-up, HIPL, is being mentored by him. While creating a unique ecosystem between big and small industries, Prof Pal is actively involved in energizing MSMEs to upskilling professionals on automation to boost the economy for producing precision and quality products. He regularly conducts training programmes on “CNC”; industry-focused short-term courses on “Composites 4.0”, and “Industrial Robots”, workshop on “Metallography” were also organized. The Centre created an Innovation Laboratory with modern Industry 4.0-enabled equipment providing access to masses. His knack for infrastructural development has brought an iconic 40,000 sq.-ft. Industrial Research space to carry out industry-scale activities – a step towards his vision in catapulting academic innovation to commercialization. 

·      Under this Centre, Professor Pal has created an Industry 4.0 Compliant Robotic Welding Facility, consisting of various robotic welding units such as MIG, TIG, Spot, Laser, and FSW, a three-axis job-positioner. All the robots are of industrial scale and are equipped with sensors for process and health monitoring. This facility is presently being set up. To support research on automobiles and structural health monitoring, Professor Pal has created a “Robotic Structural Vibration Testing Facility (RoboVib)” consisting of three laser units mounted on an industrial robot for non-contact vibration measurement. Both these facilities are the FIRST TIME IN INDIA.

·      He is presently conducting a mega-event, “Saturday Manufacturing Talks”, a year-long webinar series on advanced manufacturing topics to create awareness in the minds of people across the globe on advanced manufacturing. Speakers are from academics and industries, India and abroad. It has received appreciation from different parts of the world. With success, Govt. advised to conduct the event under the banner of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” – a celebration to commemorate the completion of 75 years of India’s independence. 

·      The prestigious “Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya Chair Professor in Manufacturing” has been awarded to him to acknowledge his immense contributions by IIT Kharagpur.

·      He also served as Executive Advisor of Science and Technology Entrepreneurs’ Park of IIT Kharagpur, where he boosted the Start-up culture and encouraged young entrepreneurs to incubate in emerging areas.

·      Prof Pal has shown enviable administrative acumen while serving Hall Management Centre (HMC) in various capacities - Assistant Warden, Warden, Coordinating Warden, and Chairman. During his Chairmanship, HMC has undergone tremendous reforms, both in infrastructure and activities, for a smooth-running and modernizing - housing and catering 12000+ students.

·      The institute had witnessed his excellent organizational capability when he served as Organising Vice-Chairman for JEE (Advanced) in 2014 and Vice-Chairman of JEE (Advanced) in 2013 -- Nation’s one of the important examinations.

·      As Associate Dean of Alumni Affairs and Branding, Prof Pal had reached a larger alumni community contributing an enhancement in the alumni connectivity and increased fundraising.

·      Professor Pal has been awarded with prestigious Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) fellowship for his outstanding contribution to science and technology.

·      He is presently is a visiting professor in University of Huddersfield, UK; University of Connecticut, USA; and Lehigh University, USA.