The three-day national-level symposium and exhibition, INNOCHEM 2025, organised by the Students’ Society of Chemical Engineering (SSOChE) at Pulchowk Campus, commenced on Monday.

The event with the theme ‘Innovating for a Circular Economy’ seeks to bring together students, professionals, and industry leaders to explore innovations and advancements in chemical engineering.

During the inauguration ceremony, a letter from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was read aloud, in which he extended his best wishes to the organising committee.

“We can industrialise local production and connect it to the global market. Nepal’s medicinal herbs have the potential to be transformed into Himalayan energy drinks for international export. For this, chemical engineers are essential in every municipality for research, exploration, and development of local resources. The central government is making the necessary efforts in this regard,” Oli wrote.

The opening day featured two-panel discussions focusing on policy and sustainability.

The first session, titled ‘Chemical Engineering in Government Policy’, had a panel of Dipak Kumar Khadka, spokesperson for the Policy Research Institute; Sushil Bhattarai, senior chemical engineer and former deputy managing director of Nepal Oil Corporation; Preedip Gyawali, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Toshima Karki, member of the House of Parliament.

Another session, ‘Waste into Wealth: Challenges and Opportunities in the Circular Economy’, explored sustainable solutions for resource management.

“For the industrial growth of our country, there will be more need for chemical engineers. We must establish a framework that involves them in research, product development, and industrial innovations to drive Nepal’s self-sufficiency”, said Gyawali.

Bhattarai pointed out the lack of opportunities for chemical engineers in government institutions. “The government hasn’t realised the importance of chemical engineers. There is hardly any placement opportunity for chemical engineers even in the places where they are needed. Even at Nepal Oil Corporation, where their expertise is critical, there aren’t enough chemical engineers.”

The event, which expects over 3,000 visitors, will continue over the next two days with an exhibition featuring more than 30 projects developed by BE and +2 students.

Key competitions include the ChemE Plant Design Competition, Energy-Efficient Design Challenge, ChemE Car Competition, and Waste-to-Energy Challenge.

“INNOCHEM is a great platform to share engineering work and raise awareness about chemical engineering,” said SSOChE President Alisha Budha. “This year’s theme is all about the circular economy, rethinking how we reuse, recycle, and regenerate materials for long-term environmental and economic benefits.”