MUMBAI: Design software and digital solutions company Autodesk Inc and the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a Digital Innovation Lab (DIL) for Innovative Design and Research.

The laboratory was inaugurated by Shriprakash Jaiswal, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India during a function held at the institute.

The Digital Innovation Lab will be a central facility intended for use by both under-graduate and post-graduate students of IIT Kanpur. As a part of the agreement, IIT Kanpur and Autodesk will also undertake short term courses for industry in the areas of design, a finishing school on design for students from other institutions in North India and ‘train the trainer’ courses for the disciplines mentioned above.

As per the MOU, Autodesk will provide its suite of 3D design software including Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Alias Studio, Autodesk Revit Architecture, Autodesk Civil 3D for mechanical and industrial design, architecture and civil engineering and assist IIT Kanpur in developing design courseware and potentially new elective inter-disciplinary courses in the areas of Mechanical, Civil and Aeronautical designs.

Students at IIT Kanpur will also receive access to the global Autodesk Student Engineering and Design Community portal to download the free software they need to bring their designs to life. The student community also allows students and faculty to stay updated with the latest 3D design technologies and industry best practices, engage with other students around the world on design projects, and even search for career opportunities. Hewlett Packard is supporting this laboratory by providing the computing infrastructure and workstations for the students.

IIT-Kanpur director Dr. Sanjay G. Dhande said, “Design is the key to the growth of any economy that aspires to be competitive in today’s global economy.  Product innovation through design competency is the key market differentiator across major industrial sectors today. This MoU between IIT Kanpur and Autodesk will help in developing innovative design skills among our students and to create a sustained pool of skilled manpower in the country.  The two institutions will work together to proactively create training modules on latest design technologies, in particular for the Mechanical, Civil and Aeronautical disciplines.”

Autodesk Worldwide Education Programs director Asia Pacific Tom Joseph said, “Engineering design and breakthrough innovations will play a pivotal role in positioning the Indian industry on today’s global platform, enhancing our competitiveness and creating intellectual property. Autodesk’s partnership with IIT-Kanpur is a significant step towards developing the foundation of this ecosystem, as well as for sharpening the skills of engineers currently employed in the industry.”