Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee completed B.E. in Metallurgical Engineering from Jadavpur University (1986); M. Tech in Metallurgy from IIT Kanpur (1989) and PhD in Materials Science & Metallurgy from University of Cambridge, UK (1993). Subsequently, he carried out two post-doctoral research engagements – one at the Rolls Royce University Technology Centre at Cambridge between 1993 and 1996 and the second at the University of Birmingham between 2000 and 2002.

He joined Tata Steel R&D in 1996 and headed the function as Chief Research & Development and Scientific Services till 2009. In 2009, he was seconded to Tata Steel Europe as Group Director Research, Development & Technology for Tata Steel Group. Dr Bhattacharjee is an expert in development of materials and associated technologies, fracture and fatigue of materials, physical metallurgy of rolling and, application of artificial neural networks in industry. He has over 50 international peer reviewed journal publications and over 20 patents.

His personal technical contributions span a wider area from mineral beneficiation to development of new technology for generating Hydrogen at low cost and, development of new applications in composite materials.

In his current role, Dr Bhattacharjee is leading the development of technologies in areas where ready solutions do not exist. e.g., large scale carbon capture and utilisation in steel industry; production of green Hydrogen in large scale for replacing carbon-based reduction of iron ore; utilisation of low grade ores; development of novel coating on steel. Dr Bhattacharjee is also responsible for establishing large business in non-steel materials. Currently, the New Materials Division, under him, is creating business in composite materials, graphene and medical materials & devices.

Dr Bhattacharjee is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering and of the Indian Institute of Metals. He has been a Visiting Professor at the Imperial College London; at the University of Warwick UK and, at the University of Science and Technology Beijing, China.

Currently, Dr Bhattacharjee is Director on the boards of Tata Steel Long Products Ltd., Tata Advanced Materials Ltd., Chairman on Ceramat Private Ltd. He is the Chairman of CII Eastern Region Subcommittee and Task force on Start-ups and leads the CII Advanced Materials Subcommittee, New Delhi.

Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee is the Chairman of Expert Committee on Industry Academia Connect Task Force, Bengal Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Member of Technology Advisory Group for Empowered Technology Group, Government of India; Member of Board – National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL); Mentor of the Expert Committee on Metals, Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

At Tata Steel, he currently holds the position of Vice President Technology & New Materials Business. Dr Bhattacharjee’s hobbies include playing cricket and acting in plays.