Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law (RGSOIPL), IIT Kharagpur is organising the 8th Research Colloquium & Annual Research Scholars’ Day 2026 on 30–31 October 2026 as part of IIT Kharagpur’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. Extended abstracts are invited on the theme “Navigating the Wild: Law, Technology and the Architecture of Accountability.” The last date for submission is 15 October 2026.
About IIT Kharagpur
Established in 1951, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) is the first Indian Institute of Technology and a pioneer of technical education and research in India. With 19 academic departments, 13 schools of excellence, eight multidisciplinary centres and over 25 central R&D units, it fosters an ecosystem for innovation and interdisciplinary inquiry.
Recognised as an Institute of Eminence in 2019, IIT Kharagpur was the first IIT to bring non-engineering disciplines such as law and management into its academic framework.
About RGSOIPL
Established in 2006, the Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law (RGSOIPL) is India’s first law school within a premier technology institute, envisioned to bridge law and technology.
The School offers a three-year LL.B. (Hons.), a two-year LL.M. in Intellectual Property, International and Criminal Law, a Ph.D. programme and a Master’s in Public Policy and Governance.
About the 8th Research Colloquium & Annual Research Scholars’ Day 2026
The 8th Research Colloquium & Annual Research Scholars’ Day 2026 is a two-day academic programme organised by RGSOIPL, IIT Kharagpur, as part of the Institute’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.
The programme seeks to bring together research scholars, faculty members, legal practitioners, policymakers and members of the legal and technology communities to engage with contemporary questions at the intersection of law, technology and accountability.
Dates: 30–31 October 2026
Venue: Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, IIT Kharagpur
Theme
“Navigating the Wild: Law, Technology and the Architecture of Accountability”
The theme addresses the question:
“Who should be accountable in a technology-driven, fast-changing and dynamic environment — and through what legal mechanism?”
The theme draws on RGSOIPL’s tech-law identity to bring scholarly presentations, practitioner insight and policy debate onto one platform.
Objectives
- Provide research scholars a platform to present and validate ongoing research in a peer-reviewed environment.
- Bring together leading scholars, practitioners and policymakers to advance interdisciplinary discourse on accountability at the law–technology interface.
- Encourage rigorous, publishable research outputs on contemporary law and technology questions.
- Reinforce the national and international visibility of IIT Kharagpur and RGSOIPL while celebrating the Institute’s Platinum Jubilee.
Sub-Themes
Extended abstracts are invited on the central theme and the following indicative sub-themes:
1. Algorithmic Liability & Technological Accountability
AI liability, automated decision-making in public administration, adequacy of existing tort frameworks, explainability as a legal obligation and algorithmic bias in adjudication.
2. Data, Privacy & Surveillance Architectures
Personal data protection under the DPDP Act 2023 and the GDPR, data fiduciary obligations, consent architecture in platform economies, state surveillance and the outer limits of AI in national security.
3. The Regulatory Frontier: AI, Platforms & the Law
The EU AI Act, India’s emerging AI policy framework and sector-specific regulation — SEBI on algorithmic trading, IRDAI on InsurTech and RBI on FinTech.
4. Intellectual Property in the Age of Generative AI
Ownership of AI-generated output, training data as fair use or infringement, patent law and AI-assisted invention, and the meaning of inventorship when the creative agent is non-human.
5. Emerging Frontiers: Blockchain, Biotech & Beyond
Smart contracts, DAOs and the jurisdictional challenge of blockchain transactions; legal and ethical frameworks for gene editing, synthetic biology, CRISPR and AI-generated genomics.
6. Chips, Sovereignty & the Courtroom
The legal anatomy of the global semiconductor industry, supply-chain structure, legal pressure points and what India’s semiconductor ambitions mean for its law and regulatory institutions.
The list is indicative, not exhaustive. Submissions on any allied question within the central theme are welcome.
Programme & Formats
Day 1 – 30 October 2026: Annual Research Scholars’ Day
The School’s annual platform for research scholars to present work in progress, receive structured feedback and sharpen method before peers and faculty.
Day 2 – 31 October 2026: 8th Research Colloquium
The thematic day of the Colloquium will bring scholars, faculty and practitioners together on the central theme and its sub-themes.
The programme includes:
- Workshops
- Round Table Discussions
- Plenary Sessions
- Paper Presentation Sessions
- Poster Presentations
- World Café
The formats are open to all registered participants. A session-wise schedule will be shared with registered participants ahead of the event.
Call for Extended Abstracts
Research scholars, faculty and practitioners are invited to submit Extended Abstracts on the central theme or any of the sub-themes.
Submissions are accepted only through the designated Google Form. Abstracts sent by email will not be considered. Decisions will be communicated by email on a rolling basis.
Early submission is highly encouraged. Acceptances are issued on a rolling basis as abstracts are reviewed.
Submission Guidelines
- Length: 500–800 words, including citations; title, keywords and cover page excluded.
- Citation Style: OSCOLA, latest edition, as footnotes; 10 pt, single-spaced.
- File Type: Microsoft Word (.docx).
- Formatting: Times New Roman, 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing, justified and 1-inch margins.
- Front Matter: Title, keywords and sub-theme; up to five keywords placed at the head of the abstract.
- Cover Page: Separate cover page containing name(s), designation, affiliation, email and contact number.
- Maximum Authors: Two authors per abstract.
- Review: Blind peer review. The abstract must carry no identifying details.
- File Name: Surname_ExtendedAbstract_RC2026.docx
The Extended Abstract should ideally contain the following sections: Introduction, Literature Review, Data and Methodology, Results and Discussion, and Conclusion.
AI Policy
The use of generative AI and similar technologies for extended abstract submissions is permitted only for minor language or formatting improvements, including formatting references.
Authors must not use AI tools for ideation, literature review, argument development, drafting or citation generation. Any use must be disclosed at the time of submission in the extended abstract draft itself, specifying the tool, version, purpose and how it was used. Violation of the policy may lead to rejection, retraction or other measures deemed necessary by the organising committee.
How to Submit?
Applicants must complete the Google Form and upload the Extended Abstract in .docx format.
Submission Form: Click here to submit
Note: Abstracts sent by email will not be considered.
Important Dates
- Submissions Open: 25 September 2026
- Last Date for Extended Abstract Submission: 15 October 2026
- Acceptance: Communicated within 48 hours of submission of the abstract
- Last Date for Registration: 28 October 2026
- 8th Research Colloquium & Annual Research Scholars’ Day: 30–31 October 2026
Registration Fee
| Category | India | SAARC (Other than India) | Non-SAARC |
| Students / Research Scholars | ₹750 | USD 15 | USD 50 |
| Faculty / Industry | ₹1,500 | USD 50 | USD 100 |
Fees are exclusive of GST and any other applicable taxes.
Registration is open to presenters as well as participants attending without a submission. Fees are paid through the Continuing Education Programme (CEP), IIT Kharagpur.
Registration Portal: [Click here to Register]
The registration includes a conference kit, food and beverages served at the venue during the Colloquium, and Certificate of Participation. Presenters also receive a Certificate of Presentation.
Awards & Certificates
The Colloquium provides for the following awards:
- Best Paper Award: Certificate and attractive prize.
- Best Presentation Award: Certificate and attractive prize.
Participants who present an accepted Extended Abstract will receive a Certificate of Presentation and a Certificate of Participation. Every registered participant will receive a Certificate of Participation.
Publication opportunities through conference proceedings are being explored with reputed publishers. This is not an assurance of publication, and any decision will be communicated separately.
Accommodation
- Limited accommodation is available at the IIT Kharagpur Guest House on additional payment. Rooms are charged separately from the registration fee and are subject to availability.
- Rooms will be allocated on a first come, first served basis in the order in which requests reach the Organising Committee. Accommodation requests may be sent to [email protected].
- The Institute provides no travel allowance, and participants are required to make their own travel arrangements.
Downloads
Brochure: [Click here to view]
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Contact: +91 81781 04713 / +91 87073 41346
Contact numbers are available on working days from 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law (RGSOIPL)
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Kharagpur – 721302, West Bengal, India