Applied Computing, a leader in developing foundational artificial intelligence solutions for the energy sector, has received the "Excellence in Computational Intelligence" award at the Downstream India Excellence Awards 2026.

The honor was presented during the Global Refining & Petrochemicals Congress (GRPC) 2026 by Padma Shri Prof. (Dr.) Ganapati D. Yadav, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, alongside Dr. R.K. Malhotra, former Director General of the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI).

The recognition highlights the impact of Orbital, Applied Computing's AI-powered foundation model designed for energy operations. The platform has demonstrated measurable success in refinery and petrochemical environments by helping operators improve efficiency, enhance performance, and reduce emissions. According to the GRPC Governing Council, the company's technology is playing an important role in enabling industrial operators to manage increasingly complex and ageing assets while addressing sustainability goals.

Established in London, Applied Computing focuses on creating advanced AI solutions for energy infrastructure. Its Orbital platform delivers trusted real-time optimisation across a range of industrial settings, including refineries, petrochemical plants, LNG facilities, wind farms, and hydroelectric operations.

Commenting on the achievement, Hari Ramani, Vice President of Applied Computing, said that industry-driven awards hold particular significance because they are judged by professionals who understand the operational challenges firsthand. He noted that India's downstream sector operates at an unmatched level of scale and complexity, making recognition from this community especially meaningful and a strong validation of Orbital's real-world impact.

The award was formally presented at the Downstream India Excellence Awards Ceremony held in the Sovereign Hall of Hotel Le Méridien, New Delhi. The event brought together policymakers, senior government officials, industry executives, and international stakeholders involved in shaping the future of the downstream energy sector.

The accolade comes amid a period of significant growth for Applied Computing. The company has identified India as its most important global expansion market and established a new office in Bengaluru in December 2025. In addition, it secured one of the largest seed funding rounds ever raised by a UK-based AI company and welcomed former Shell AI executive Dan Jeavons as President.

Applied Computing has also expanded its industry reach through strategic collaborations with Databricks and Falkor, a KONGSBERG company. These partnerships integrate Orbital into existing data ecosystems and digital twin platforms, enabling real-time optimisation and improved operational decision-making across industrial facilities.

Bringing diverse perspectives to the table is an important way to aid in critical thinking and the discovery of new opportunities. This is especially evident in the field of corporate social responsibility, where robust thinking and dialogue contribute to the creation of a more sustainable world. Dow's Sustainability External Advisory Council (SEAC) is an excellent example of a long-standing advisory board that has helped shape our sustainability journey over the last 30 years.

When it was founded in 1992 by Frank Popoff, former Dow CEO and chairman, and David Buzzelli, former Dow board member and executive vice president, it was a first-of-its-kind council in the petrochemical industry. The SEAC provides an independent, outside-in perspective on critical sustainability and environmental policies that affect Dow and the global community, such as climate change, ecosystem services, circularity, and sustainable chemistry.

These thought leaders represent the best in academia, government, and non-governmental organizations, and they bring a diverse, global perspective on a wide range of important and current issues. This approach and diverse set of stakeholders enable us to address global challenges in the most effective way to drive sustainable and inclusive growth.

Looking back on three decades of collaboration with the SEAC, we can see the impact they have had on our company. We have pushed boundaries and made bolder strides as a result of their challenging and thought-provoking feedback.

Creating an impact
Notably, the SEAC contributed to the development of our decade-long Environment, Health, Safety, and Sustainability Goals. The SEAC challenged us to be bold, ambitious, and a leader in sustainability as we developed our 2005, 2015, and most recent 2025 goals. Each successive set of goals was elevated and designed to have a broader reach and impact with the council's guidance.

With our 2025 Valuing Nature Goal, for example, the SEAC served as a sounding board and thought partner, assisting us in incorporating nature into business decisions. To date, we are roughly three-quarters of the way to delivering $1 billion in value, primarily through avoided costs, from projects that are beneficial to both businesses and ecosystems. And, through continued collaboration, we are assisting the global transition to a more circular economy. In order to accomplish this, the council encouraged us to be bold in our actions and to seek new partnerships, such as those through the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.

Looking ahead
We're taking a moment to reflect on three decades of collaboration and growth with the SEAC, but we're also looking ahead. The SEAC will continue to bring outside perspectives that will help us navigate many aspects of sustainability, from policy and advocacy to regulatory frameworks, consumer dialogue, and financial perspectives on sustainability. We will continue to learn from and benefit from their industry expertise, as we have in the past. We recognize our purpose to deliver a sustainable future for the world through materials science and collaboration with our partners because of and in partnership with the SEAC.