New Delhi, July 17: The Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (SMSIMSR), in collaboration with Manipal Group of Hospitals, Kolkata, and SS Innovations International, successfully hosted the World’s First Free International Conference on Robotic & Endoscopic Cardiac Surgery (IERCSC 2026) on 11–12 July 2026, bringing together globally renowned cardiac surgeons, innovators and medical professionals to advance the future of minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
The conference was inaugurated in the presence of Esteemed Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, Founder of the One World One Family Mission; Sri Prabhu G., IAS, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, Chikkaballapura; Dr. C. S. Hiremath, Organising Secretary; Dr. Satish Babu K. N., Director of Academics, SMSIMSR; and Dr. Sandip Sardar, Organising Chair. Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Founder, Chairman & CEO, SS Innovations International, joined the inaugural session virtually.
A key highlight of the inaugural ceremony was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SMSIMSR, Manipal Group of Hospitals, Kolkata, and SS Innovations International to establish the International Endoscopic & Robotic Cardiac Surgery Conference (IERCSC) as a biennial academic programme. The collaboration will advance scientific exchange, technology transfer, hands-on training, live surgical demonstrations, and research in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Designed to provide free, world-class training in robotic and endoscopic cardiac surgery, the conference received over 256 applications for just 80 seats, prompting organisers to expand participation to 114 cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons from across India.
The scientific programme commenced with multiple live surgical demonstrations, including a landmark live tele-robotic cardiac surgery, during which Dr. Sudhir Srivastava remotely performed a robotic Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) closure on a patient at SMSIMSR using the SSI Mantra Surgical Robotic System while operating from New Delhi. Despite the complexity of the case due to dense cardiac adhesions, the surgery was completed successfully, demonstrating the immense potential of tele-robotic surgery to bridge geographical barriers and expand access to specialised cardiac care. The programme also featured a live Aortic Valve Replacement transmitted from Greece and a live Sinus Venosus ASD Repair from KG Hospital, Coimbatore, enabling delegates to observe advanced surgical techniques performed by leading international and national experts.
Last year, in July 2025, during the visit of Esteemed Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai Ji to the headquarters of SS Innovations Group for the signing of the MoU, SS Innovations announced a comprehensive partnership to help establish advanced robotic surgery capabilities at SMSIMSR. The initiative includes the deployment of an SSI Mantra surgical robotic system, support a structured surgeon training programme, to enable surgeons at the institute to provide world class surgical care to thousands of underprivileged patients.
Esteemed Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai Ji, Founder, One World One Family Mission, said, “The true purpose of medical science is to serve humanity with compassion. When knowledge, innovation and collaboration come together without barriers, they create opportunities that transform countless lives. By offering this international conference free of cost, we wanted to ensure that financial limitations never become an obstacle to learning or excellence. It is heartening to see experts from around the world unite with a shared commitment to making advanced cardiac care more accessible, equitable and patient-centric.”
Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Founder, Chairman & CEO, SS Innovations International, said, “IERCSC 2026 marks an important milestone in advancing robotic and endoscopic cardiac surgery through education, innovation and global collaboration. The successful live tele-robotic cardiac surgery demonstrated how indigenous robotic technology can transcend geographical boundaries, bringing specialised surgical expertise closer to patients irrespective of location. Equally significant is our partnership with SMSIMSR and Manipal Group of Hospitals, Kolkata, which establishes IERCSC as a sustained global academic platform for nurturing the next generation of robotic cardiac surgeons and accelerating the adoption of minimally invasive cardiac surgery worldwide.”
Dr. C. S. Hiremath, Organising Secretary, IERCSC 2026 and Chief Cardiac Surgeon & Director, Heart Valve Bank & Academics (CTVS), SMSIMSR, said, “The overwhelming response to IERCSC 2026 reflects the growing interest among cardiac surgeons in robotic and endoscopic procedures and the need for structured, high-quality training platforms. Through live operative demonstrations, interactive scientific sessions and intensive hands-on workshops, we aimed to bridge the gap between technological innovation and clinical practice. With the signing of the MoU, IERCSC will now evolve into a biennial international academic programme, creating long-term opportunities for research, surgical education, technology transfer and global collaboration in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.”
The conference also featured scientific lectures, case discussions, and interactive sessions led by renowned faculty from India and across the globe. A panel discussion on “How Can India Become a Global Hub for Endoscopic & Robotic Cardiac Surgery?” highlighted the importance of indigenous innovation, collaborative research, technology transfer, and surgical capacity building in advancing minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
The second day featured structured hands-on workshops in endoscopic and robotic cardiac surgery, where participants trained on bovine and porcine heart models under the guidance of leading experts. Through simulation-based learning, they gained practical experience in robotic systems, endoscopic instrumentation, operative workflows, and surgical techniques. By combining global expertise, indigenous robotic technology, live tele-robotic surgery, and immersive training, IERCSC 2026 set a new benchmark for cardiac surgical education in India while reaffirming the One World One Family Mission’s commitment to providing free, world-class healthcare education and advancing international collaboration in robotic and minimally invasive cardiac surgery.