ASNT AND CINDE TO HOST THE 4TH
INTERNATIONAL GATHERING ON NDE 4.0
Background: The Genesis of a
Global Dialogue on NDE 4.0
The International Conference on NDE 4.0
[1] emerged in 2021 as a visionary
response to the rapidly evolving land-
scape of nondestructive evaluation
(NDE). Recognizing the transformative
power of Industry 4.0 technologies, the
conference sought to create a dedicated
platform for professionals worldwide
to explore the convergence of physical
inspection methods with digital inno-
vations. The inaugural event, despite
being held virtually, successfully ignited a
global dialogue, showcasing the potential
of AI, machine learning, the Internet of
Things (IoT), and robotics to revolutionize
inspection and quality assurance.
The event was conceived by
Dr. Johannes Vrana, supported by
Dr. Ripi Singh, organized by the
German Society for Non-Destructive
Testing (DGZfP), co-sponsored by
the International Committee on
Non-Destructive Testing (ICNDT), and
powered by virtual conferencing tech-
nology. To accommodate time zones
across the globe, the virtual conference
ran for three hours a day for four days,
with two time slot options to choose
from. This initial gathering of invited
speakers and curated panel discussions
underscored the pressing need for a
focused exchange of ideas and best
practices, thus laying the foundation for
a continuing series of conferences that is
now shaping the future of NDE.
Up Until Now: Driving the Future of
NDE 4.0
Since its inception, the International
Conference on NDE 4.0 has experienced
remarkable growth, evolving into a
central hub for knowledge dissemination
and collaboration. The second edition,
held in Berlin in 2022 [2], once again
led by Vrana and Singh and organized
by DGZfP, solidified its position as a key
international event, attracting a diverse
audience of experts, researchers, and
industry leaders. This three-day event
brought together more than 130 partic-
ipants for the first in-person meeting,
debating the value of cyber-physical NDE
in two parallel sessions that continued in
meaningful discussions in the lobby and
over mugs of beer in the evenings. Short
courses were also introduced to spread
awareness.
At this conference, ICNDT introduced
the prestigious Kurzweil Award for High
Impact in NDE 4.0, aimed at recognizing
individuals for outstanding contributions
or significant advancements (a “work”) in
the discipline of NDE 4.0. A maximum of
three individuals may be selected for the
award in one year however, all awardees
in a given year must be recognized for
the same work. The award is for personal
contributions and requires the winner
to give a six-minute acceptance speech
focused on inspiring young minds to
pursue NDE 4.0. The first recipients were
Dr. Norbert Meyendorf and Prof. Bernd
Valeske for their work “Starting the Field
of NDE 4.0.”
Global participation also made it
clear that the conference needed to
move around the world. With a few
nations bidding for the third conference,
the ICNDT SIG (Specialist International
Group) on NDE 4.0 picked India as the
next destination.
The 2025 conference [3], led by Dr.
Shyamsunder Mandayam and Prof.
Krishnan Balasubramanian, hosted
and sponsored by the Indian Society
for Non-Destructive Testing (ISNT) in
Bengaluru, India, further expanded its
global footprint, highlighting diverse
applications and regional advancements
in NDE 4.0 across continents. It attracted
more than 350 participants from 16
nations. A technology exhibition became
a part of the conference, with 18 compa-
nies from four countries showcasing their
offerings, making NDE 4.0 a solution to
embrace. This progression demonstrates
the increasing importance of the confer-
ence as a catalyst for innovation and a
SCANNER
|
NDEOUTLOOK
The host of the 2027 conference was announced in Bengaluru on 4 March 2025 with an
AI-generated video. Scan the QR code to watch.
14
M AT E R I A L S E V A L U AT I O N • M AY 2 0 2 5
INTERNATIONAL GATHERING ON NDE 4.0
Background: The Genesis of a
Global Dialogue on NDE 4.0
The International Conference on NDE 4.0
[1] emerged in 2021 as a visionary
response to the rapidly evolving land-
scape of nondestructive evaluation
(NDE). Recognizing the transformative
power of Industry 4.0 technologies, the
conference sought to create a dedicated
platform for professionals worldwide
to explore the convergence of physical
inspection methods with digital inno-
vations. The inaugural event, despite
being held virtually, successfully ignited a
global dialogue, showcasing the potential
of AI, machine learning, the Internet of
Things (IoT), and robotics to revolutionize
inspection and quality assurance.
The event was conceived by
Dr. Johannes Vrana, supported by
Dr. Ripi Singh, organized by the
German Society for Non-Destructive
Testing (DGZfP), co-sponsored by
the International Committee on
Non-Destructive Testing (ICNDT), and
powered by virtual conferencing tech-
nology. To accommodate time zones
across the globe, the virtual conference
ran for three hours a day for four days,
with two time slot options to choose
from. This initial gathering of invited
speakers and curated panel discussions
underscored the pressing need for a
focused exchange of ideas and best
practices, thus laying the foundation for
a continuing series of conferences that is
now shaping the future of NDE.
Up Until Now: Driving the Future of
NDE 4.0
Since its inception, the International
Conference on NDE 4.0 has experienced
remarkable growth, evolving into a
central hub for knowledge dissemination
and collaboration. The second edition,
held in Berlin in 2022 [2], once again
led by Vrana and Singh and organized
by DGZfP, solidified its position as a key
international event, attracting a diverse
audience of experts, researchers, and
industry leaders. This three-day event
brought together more than 130 partic-
ipants for the first in-person meeting,
debating the value of cyber-physical NDE
in two parallel sessions that continued in
meaningful discussions in the lobby and
over mugs of beer in the evenings. Short
courses were also introduced to spread
awareness.
At this conference, ICNDT introduced
the prestigious Kurzweil Award for High
Impact in NDE 4.0, aimed at recognizing
individuals for outstanding contributions
or significant advancements (a “work”) in
the discipline of NDE 4.0. A maximum of
three individuals may be selected for the
award in one year however, all awardees
in a given year must be recognized for
the same work. The award is for personal
contributions and requires the winner
to give a six-minute acceptance speech
focused on inspiring young minds to
pursue NDE 4.0. The first recipients were
Dr. Norbert Meyendorf and Prof. Bernd
Valeske for their work “Starting the Field
of NDE 4.0.”
Global participation also made it
clear that the conference needed to
move around the world. With a few
nations bidding for the third conference,
the ICNDT SIG (Specialist International
Group) on NDE 4.0 picked India as the
next destination.
The 2025 conference [3], led by Dr.
Shyamsunder Mandayam and Prof.
Krishnan Balasubramanian, hosted
and sponsored by the Indian Society
for Non-Destructive Testing (ISNT) in
Bengaluru, India, further expanded its
global footprint, highlighting diverse
applications and regional advancements
in NDE 4.0 across continents. It attracted
more than 350 participants from 16
nations. A technology exhibition became
a part of the conference, with 18 compa-
nies from four countries showcasing their
offerings, making NDE 4.0 a solution to
embrace. This progression demonstrates
the increasing importance of the confer-
ence as a catalyst for innovation and a
SCANNER
|
NDEOUTLOOK
The host of the 2027 conference was announced in Bengaluru on 4 March 2025 with an
AI-generated video. Scan the QR code to watch.
14
M AT E R I A L S E V A L U AT I O N • M AY 2 0 2 5
