Kolkata — The Microsoft Student Society at the University of Engineering & Management (UEM), Kolkata, teamed up with the Kolkata International Blockchain Association to deliver a highly successful flagship event, CHAINSPHERE, held across two days on January 22 (online) and January 24 (offline), 2026. The event drew students, tech enthusiasts, and industry leaders to delve into the transformative potential of Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, and Web3 technologies, effectively connecting classroom theory with cutting-edge industry applications.
Day one featured a vibrant No-Code AI Competition, where participants demonstrated inventive AI solutions crafted through user-friendly, no-code or low-code platforms. This segment spotlighted the accessibility of modern AI tools, enabling aspiring innovators to tackle real-world challenges without advanced coding skills and promoting broader participation in technological creativity.
The event culminated on January 24 with a hands-on Blockchain Workshop and an engaging interactive quiz. These sessions provided practical exposure to blockchain core concepts, decentralized architectures, and Web3 ecosystems, while illuminating diverse career avenues in this dynamic field.
A major highlight was the keynote address delivered by Kalyanjit Hatibaruah, Chairman of the Flugelsoft Group and Advisory Board Member of Kolkata International Blockchain Association, who served as the Chief Guest Speaker. Drawing on more than 25 years of expertise in Blockchain, Web3, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Transformation, Mr. Hatibaruah offered valuable perspectives on emerging technology trends, future opportunities, and strategic career guidance. He is also a Visiting Faculty at the New Delhi Institute of Management, a mentor at IIT Madras (Nirmaan) and IIM Kozhikode, and actively involved with leading innovation ecosystems including T-Hub, STPI, and India Accelerator. Additionally, he frequently serves as a jury member for national hackathons organized by institutions and government bodies.
The programme was further enriched by expert presentations from Rittik Das, Founder of FilmFinance.App, Sweta Karar, Blockchain Engineer at Hacken, and Soumik Bakshi, AI Engineer at Payram. Drawing from their frontline experience, they delivered practical perspectives on blockchain deployments, AI innovation, and real-world use cases spanning diverse industries.
Prince Choudhury, President of Kolkata International Blockchain Association, along with Vice President Mukoot Ali, graced the occasion and addressed the participants. Emphasizing Kolkata International Blockchain Association’s ongoing mission, Mr. Choudhury reaffirmed the association’s dedication to partnering with academic institutions, industry players, and government entities to position Kolkata as a leading Blockchain Hub of India.
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The event ran smoothly thanks to the organizing efforts of Microsoft Student Society, UEM Kolkata team members Snehasish Das, Dipanjali Dutta, Praneet Singh, and Priyanshu Mitra.
CHAINSPHERE exemplified the power of academia-industry synergy, arming participants with state-of-the-art skills and igniting passion among the next wave of Indian technologists to shape the nation’s digital destiny.
