Overview
Date: 28 September 2026
Pimpri Chinchwad University inaugurated its Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Industry 5.0 &
Future Technologies, marking a significant step towards strengthening future-ready education,
industry-oriented skill development, advanced research and technological innovation.
The Centre of Excellence brings together advanced laboratories, industry partnerships, research
facilities and experiential learning opportunities to provide students, researchers and industry
professionals with hands-on exposure to emerging technologies and industrial applications.
The inauguration was graced by Shri Harshvardhan Patil, Chancellor & Chairperson, Governing
Body, PCU; Shri Prataprao Pawar, Governing Body Member, PCU; Shri Dnyaneshwar
Pandurang Landge, Chairman, PCET & Governing Body Member, PCU; Smt. Padma Maloji
Bhosale, Chairperson, PCET & Governing Body Member, PCU; Shri Vitthal Somaji Kalbhor,
Secretary, PCET & Governing Body Member, PCU; Shri Narendra Landge and Shri Ajinkya
Kalbhor, Management Representatives, PCU; Shri Rajesh Madhusudan Patil, Governing Body
Member, PCU & Head, Actual User Business, Forbes Marshall; Mr. Salim Shikalgar, Governing
Body Member, PCU & President, Pune Jilha Shikalgar Samaj Seva Sangh; Mr. Ajit Gate, CEO
& Founder, Digitech Robotics India Private Limited; Mr. Liam; Mr. Gajanan Patil; Dr. Girish
Desai, Executive Director, PCET & Governing Body Member, PCU; and Dr. Santosh Sonavane,
Vice Chancellor, PCU & Governing Body Member.
The CoE houses 16 advanced laboratories covering key areas of Industry 5.0 and future
technologies, including:
1. Industrial Automation
2. Industrial Mechatronics Lab – Industrial Pneumatic and Smart IO-Link Sensor
3. Industrial Robotics
4. Smart Factory Automation with IIoT
5. Industrial Virtual Factory Automation & Digital Twin
6. AI Robotics and Machine Learning
7. Electric Vehicle Technology
8. Drone Technology
9. Additive Manufacturing
10. Semiconductor Technology
11. Electronics & Electrical Design
12. Advanced Embedded IoT & AIoT
13. Industrial Computer Integrated Manufacturing
14. High-Performance Computing
15. AI & Adaptive Computing
16. Research & Development Lab
The first 13 laboratories have been established in association with Digitech Robotics India
Private Limited. The High-Performance Computing Lab has been established in association with
C-DAC Pune, while the AI & Adaptive Computing Lab has been established in association with
AMD.
The Centre is designed to support industry training and certifications, skill development
programmes and vocational education, research facilities for industry and students, and
laboratory facilities for academic programmes.
During the event, Dr. Umesh Potdar, Program Head, PCU–Tata Motors Diploma Program,
highlighted the utilisation of the CoE facilities for various PCU initiatives, including the
PCU–Tata Motors Diploma Program in Mechatronics Engineering, a skill development
programme exclusively for Tata Motors trainees, along with the proposed Skill Development
Programme for students from Kenya and Zanzibar.
Mr. Ramkrishna Vadali, Head, IT & ITES, PCET, presented the activities planned under the
High-Performance Computing Lab in collaboration with C-DAC Pune and the AI & Adaptive
Computing Lab in collaboration with AMD.
The inauguration reflects PCU’s commitment to creating an industry-integrated academic
ecosystem that connects education, research, innovation and real-world technological
applications. The Centre of Excellence is envisioned as a platform for experiential learning,
advanced research, industry training and the development of future-ready skills.
On the occasion, the Boys’ Hostel at Pimpri Chinchwad University was also inaugurated, further
strengthening the University’s campus infrastructure and residential facilities for students.
The Centre of Excellence and the newly inaugurated Boys’ Hostel mark important milestones in
PCU’s continued efforts towards building a modern, technology-driven and student-centric
campus environment.
