The insightful session on “Agentic AI Applications for Transforming R&D, Operations, Reliability, and Safety in Downstream” offered a fresh perspective on how Agentic AI is reshaping the industry—accelerating innovation in R&D, driving intelligent decision-making, and enabling self-optimizing operations. AI-powered systems can now interpret complex industrial data, anticipate challenges, and recommend data-driven actions that enhance reliability, efficiency, and safety across the value chain.

A key part of the discussion focused on how integrating GenAI and AI into catalyst synthesis and industrial processes is opening new possibilities for the downstream sector. AI accelerates catalyst development by predicting performance attributes such as activity and selectivity. It also streamlines literature analysis, merges diverse data sources, and uncovers new pathways for innovation in catalyst design, process optimization, and scientific research. These capabilities are enabling improved efficiency, greater sustainability, and enhanced cost-effectiveness across operations.

Overall, the conversations at ETM 2025 reflected the industry’s growing momentum toward adopting AI-driven intelligence to build more proactive, resilient, and future-ready downstream ecosystems.