The Indian Institutional Quant Conference (Bengaluru Edition 2026)

The Indian Institutional Quant Conference (IIQC) – Bengaluru Edition 2026 was held on 24th April 2026 at Taj MG Road, Bengaluru. The conference convened a distinguished group of researchers, academicians, practitioners, technologists, family offices, and institutional participants who are actively contributing towards the advancement of quantitative and systematic thinking in India. The full-day event served as a collaborative platform for meaningful dialogue, technical exchange, and interdisciplinary learning across the broader quant ecosystem.

The Bengaluru edition created an engaging environment for participants to deliberate on emerging developments in quantitative research, structured methodologies, statistical systems, data-driven frameworks, and technological applications. Through a thoughtfully curated agenda comprising presentations, panel discussions, fireside conversations, and interactive sessions, attendees gained perspectives on how analytical and systematic approaches are increasingly influencing institutional processes, research practices, and long-term strategic thinking.

The Bengaluru Edition 2026 witnessed participation from a wide range of leading institutions, underlining the event’s growing relevance in the evolving landscape of quantitative thinking. Participants from reputed organizations including ICICI Securities, HDFC Bank, Adgianint LLP, CME Group, FYERS Securities, SCT Capital, ICTS-TIFR, Orbis, Clear Street, Dhan, ArthAlpha, Agreya Capital, LSEG, Private Equity Pro Partners, Cautilya Capital, Nubra, NK Securities, Societe Generale, IIM Bangalore, Fidelity, MSCI, Zerodha, Smallcase, Kash Group, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, JioBlackRock, Capital Ken, TradersCafe, Statedge, HSBC, Standard Chartered, BSE, Sundaram Mutual, True Beacon, Kumara Capital, StockGro, SBI-SG, RIOM Ventures Private Limited, Khaitan & Co, State Street Investment Management, Bandhan Mutual Fund, Turtle Wealth Management, Nimida Capital, QuantumStreet AI, Scripbox, Incog Capital, Pro Alpha Advisors, Xylar AI, Arum Ra Advisors LLP, Premji Invest, CoinDCX, Levitas, Wealth Yantra, Great Lakes Institute of Management, and several other contributed to rich discussions, exchange of ideas, and collaborative engagement throughout the conference.

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.

The Indian Institutional Quant Conference (IIQC) – Bengaluru 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 opened with a welcome address by Rishi Kohli (JioBlackRock AMC) and Pankaj Mani (RealWorldRisk, Wilmott), highlighting LAQSA’s ongoing initiatives, education and research efforts, and the growing importance of building a strong, collaborative quant ecosystem.

A key session by Dr. Ranjan Chakravarty and Vishwanathan Iyer (Great Lakes Institute of Management) explored the identification of HFT regimes in India, focusing on microstructure fingerprints, evolving methodologies, and structural shifts observed in the ecosystem.

The session by Udit Sureka (Nuvama Asset Services) provided a structured perspective on transitioning from strategy to implementation, discussing various frameworks and considerations across different structural approaches.

The panel on Data-Driven Strategies featuring Vinayan Nambiar (Nimida Capital), Sanjiv Singhal (Scripbox), and Balakrishnan Ilango (LSEG), moderated by Vijayanand Venkataraman (Wealth Yantra), reflected on data classification, behavioural variables, and the role of advisory layers in decision-making.

Another insightful session by Sankarshan Basu (Professor at the IIM Bangalore, co-author with John Hull of the famous book “Options, Futures & Other Derivatives” focused on tail risk modelling, highlighting the asymmetric nature of risk and the limitations of conventional approaches during extreme scenarios.

The fireside chat between Prof. Deepak Dhar (ICTS-TIFR Bangalore, India’s only Boltzmann Medalist, Padma Bhushan) and Pankaj Mani (RealWorldRisk, Wilmott) explored the intersection of physics and quant systems, discussing the applicability and limitations of interdisciplinary thinking.

The panel featuring Sunil Ramrakhiani (BSEIndia) and Shikhar Kacker (Khaitan), moderated by Rishi Kohli (JioBlackRock AMC), discussed evolving regulatory, exchange, and structural perspectives along with key microstructure developments.

The concluding technical session by Hari P. Krishnan (Noted Global Author & Quant Portfolio Manager, SCT Capital, Ex-Morgan Stanley) highlighted concepts of passive fragility and systemic behaviour, focusing on active and passive instabilities within complex systems.

The conference concluded with closing remarks by Pawan Mehar (Unicorn Investment Managers), reflecting on the day’s discussions and thanking the speakers, partners, and attendees for contributing to the success of the event.

The Bengaluru 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 platform for learning, dialogue, collaboration, and exchange of ideas across the quantitative ecosystem.

Energized by the enriching discussions and collaborative exchange throughout the conference, we move forward with a deep sense of gratitude and renewed enthusiasm to continue advancing quantitative research, education, and systematic thinking across the country and beyond. The Bengaluru Edition of the Indian Institutional Quant Conference 2026 acted as a platform for fresh perspectives, interdisciplinary dialogue, and stronger collaboration across the ecosystem. It further reinforced our vision of building a connected and evolving community grounded in curiosity, analytical thinking, adaptability, and continuous learning.

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