It is my humble privilege to cordially invite you all, on behalf of MRS-I, to the  International Union of Materials Research Societies – International Conference in Asia – 2013 (IUMRS-ICA-2013) to be held during December 16-20, 2013 at INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE in Bangalore, India.

As you are aware that IUMRS-ICA-2013 is a continuation in the series of the conferences among the Asian MRS Members including C-MRS, MRS-I, MRS-J, MRS-K, MRS-S and MRS-T, and this year’s conference is supported by the Material Research Society of India (MRS-I) in conjunction with other academic and research institutions in the country.

The program of the IUMRS-ICA-2013 consists of 7 symposia; Electronic & Photonic Materials, Functional Materials, Energy & Green Materials, Advanced Structural Materials, Materials for Bio / Medical applications, Modeling and Characterization. Since the beginning of this series, this meeting has become a strong ground for a high quality exchange of scientific results and ideas by the researchers and scientists from both academia and industries. Furthermore, it also offers a strong platform to present and discuss the cutting-edge research, to help both students and researchers for future collaborations. Hence, I sincerely believe that the scientists actively engaged in materials research and developments would greatly benefit in participating in the meeting and gain deeper academic insights.

A fast growing metropolis, the garden city of Bangalore, also rendered as Bengaluru, is the capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration. Situated at about 1000 meters above sea level, it is known for its salubrious climate where temperatures remain moderate throughout the year. The maximum temperature in December is around 280C and the minimum around 130C. It is connected by air, rail and road to all major cities of the country and has direct international connections to many cities worldwide.

It is among the top 10 preferred entrepreneurial locations in the world and is well known as a hub for India's information technology sector. The city has several institutions of Learning and Research. Many of them such as the Indian Institute of Science, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, International Centre for Materials Science, Raman Research Institute, National Institute of Mental health and Neuro-Sciences, National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore University have worldwide acclaim. The high-tech industries such as Aerospace, Electronics, Computers and now fast spreading software have made Bangalore their home due to easy access to a vast pool of scientists and engineers in the city. In the area of art and culture too, the city boasts of a rich heritage and tradition and has several schools of classical music and dance. The city abounds in picturesque parks and gardens and other scenic spots. The extensive stretch of green land of Cubbon Park and the enchanting botanical gardens with Glass-House of Lal-Bagh, both situated right in the middle of the metropolis, lend all the charming grandeur to the city.

The Organizing Committee of the IUMRS-ICA-2013 truly believes that it will be an absolutely great opportunity for you to gain not only the academic insights but also the diverse Indian culture and life styles which will be eventually broadened to the Asian cultures by the participants coming from all over the Asian countries.

I do invite you for an active participation and contributions in advance and look forward to seeing you all in Bangalore, India.

Yours truly,

S.B. Krupanidhi
Chair of IUMRS-ICA-2013
Indian Institute of Science