The Indian Institutional Quant Conference (Mumbai Edition 2026)

The Indian Institutional Quant Conference (IIQC) – Mumbai Edition 2026 was held on 16th January 2026 at Holiday Inn, Mumbai. The event brought together a diverse set of experts, researchers, and practitioners who are contributing to the growth of quantitative thinking in India through structured, data-driven approaches. This full-day conference served as a meeting ground for experts and enthusiasts keen to explore ideas, applications, and developments across the quant ecosystem.

The conference acted as a vibrant platform for participants to engage with evolving themes in quantitative research, systematic methodologies, and analytical frameworks. With a carefully curated agenda comprising panel discussions, presentations, and interactive sessions, the event offered attendees valuable perspectives on how quantitative thinking is shaping institutional decision-making and long-term capability building.

The Mumbai Edition 2026 witnessed 200+ participation from a wide range of leading institutions, underlining the event’s growing relevance in the evolving landscape of quantitative thinking. Reputed organizations such as NSE, BSE, NSE Indices, NSE Data & Indices, BSE Indices, JioBlackRock AMC, ICICI Prudential, Bandhan AMC, Motilal Oswal AMC, Edelweiss, Edelweiss Global Markets, Nuvama Asset Services, DSP, Marcellus Investment Managers, Julius Baer, JP Morgan, Standard Chartered Bank, Deutsche Bank, Fidelity International, ASK, Goldman Sachs, Emkay Global, Futures First, Levitas, Qode, Alpha Alternatives, AlphaGrep, InCred, Bandhan Mutual Fund, Aikyam Capital, Sunrise Gilts & Securities, HBE Capital, Kalpi Capital, Cautilya Capital, Unicorn IM, ArthAlpha, Vmathran, Batra Hedge, Bull AI, MSCI, S&P Global, LSEG, FACTSET, Bloomberg, Reuters, Moneycontrol, Economic Times, Business Standard, Quant Insider, MethodTech, DataEdge Technologies, Oleander Financial Technologies, Accord Fintech, Deccan Research Technologies, Nubra, ULJK, Levitas, Qube Research Technologies, MIT, NDA, NITI Aayog, RBI and Bandhan AMC added further depth to the networking and exchange of ideas and demonstrated the broadening impact of quantitative problem-solving across segments.

Key Highlights

The conference featured a series of compelling keynote sessions by distinguished voices, offering forward-looking perspectives on the evolution of analytical thinking, model-based decision frameworks, and scenario-driven approaches.

Agenda

• The Indian Institutional Quant Conference (IIQC) – Mumbai Edition 2026 brought together voices from across institutions, academia, and practice. The event would not have been possible without the generous time and insights shared by our speakers and moderators.
• The conference was seamlessly hosted by Kavita Pathak (Maybank Investment Banking Group), who guided the day’s proceedings and ensured smooth transitions across sessions.
• The event opened with a welcome address by Rishi Kohli (JioBlackRock AMC), Pankaj Mani (RealWorldRisk; Wilmott Quant Magazine), and Pawan Mehar (Unicorn), sharing updates on education initiatives, research efforts, and LAQSA membership benefits.
• A key session of the conference focused on the importance of research for India’s quant community and the economy at large, bringing together perspectives from academia, policy, and practice. Featuring Dr. Nishith Desai, Founder of Nishith Desai Associates, and Prof. Chintan Vaishnav (MIT; former Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Government of India), the discussion emphasized how rigorous, reproducible research strengthens the foundations of quantitative strategies—by improving decision frameworks, sharpening risk thinking, and enabling institutions to build long-term capabilities. The speakers also underscored that deeper research culture in India can compound beyond markets, supporting innovation, productivity, and durable economic development.
• The first panel brought together Tanvi Kacheria (JioBlackRock AMC), Mihir Shah (FactSet), Bijon Pani (Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company Ltd.), and Sandip Santdasani (ICICI Prudential AMC Ltd), with Neil Borate (thefynprint) moderating the discussion. The session reflected diverse perspectives and experiences drawn from different organizational and global contexts.
• Another panel featured Udit Sureka (Nuvama Asset Services), Sunil Ramrakhiani (Bombay Stock Exchange), and Rajesh Bhatia (ITI Mutual Fund), moderated by Himanshu Oza (Nubra), sharing perspectives on the evolving environment in India that supports long–short approaches.
• Another key highlight of the mid-day session was a critical examination of the intellectual foundations of modern research. Through a fireside chat and presentation on the “Replication Crisis,” LAQSA Co-Founder Pankaj Mani, along with Balakrishnan Ilango (LSEG), discussed why a large proportion of published research findings may be statistically unreliable. The conversation called for a renewed commitment to scientific rigour across disciplines, including economics and finance, medical sciences, social sciences, psychology, hard sciences such as physics, and even policymaking.

  The discussion was grounded in Pankaj Mani’s recently published global paper, “Replication Crisis: Why Science Needs to Be More Scientific,” featured in the world’s prestigious Wilmott Quant Magazine, which was written as a response to Stanford professor John Ioannidis’s influential 2005 paper, “Why Most Published Research Findings Are False.”

• Another panel featuring Karan Maheshwari (MIPL), Ashwin Patni (Julius Baer India), and Minal Goyal (Famy Care Ltd., Mumbai), moderated by Rohit Beri (ArthAlpha), highlighting the growing appetite among ultra-high-net-worth individuals for systematic internal and external allocations.
• The technical depth of the conference reached its peak with sessions led by world-renowned physicist and options trader, Prof. Espen Haug, presented on “Option Strategies, Fat-Tails & Monetary Policy.”
• The conference concluded with a presentation by Rishi Kohli followed with closing remarks from Anil Ghelani (DSP) & the LAQSA team, reflecting on the importance of research-led thinking, education, talent tools, and engagement with policymaking in strengthening the broader quantitative ecosystem.

The Mumbai Edition of the Indian Institutional Quant Conference 2026 would not have been possible without the insightful contributions of our speakers, moderators, partners, and participants. Their collective engagement transformed the event into a meaningful forum for learning, dialogue, and collaboration.

Energized by this enriching gathering, we move forward with a deep sense of gratitude and renewed momentum to advance the journey of promoting quantitative research, education, and systematic thinking across the country. The Mumbai Edition of the Indian Institutional Quant Conference 2026 acted as a catalyst for fresh ideas, stronger collaboration, and a shared commitment to analytical excellence. It further strengthened our vision of building a connected and vibrant ecosystem grounded in curiosity, adaptability, and continuous learning.

We sincerely thank everyone who participated and contributed to making this edition impactful and memorable. As we continue this journey of ideas, inquiry, and collaboration, we look forward to welcoming the community at the next chapter of this evolving forum.