BITS Pilani, SMC India partner to set up Centre of Excellence in Industry 4.0

BITS Pilani and SMC Corporation (India) have signed an MoU to establish a Centre of Excellence in Industrial Automation and Industry 4.0. The initiative will focus on research, skilling, and innovation to support smart manufacturing and deep-tech startups.

Hyderabad: The Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani and SMC Corporation (India) Pvt Ltd have signed an MoU to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Industrial Automation and Industry 4.0 Technologies at the BITS Pilani campus.

The CoE is envisioned as a long-term, future-focused platform at the intersection of mechatronics, industrial automation, and Industry 4.0 technologies. It will serve as a hub for advanced research, industry-relevant skilling, applied innovation, and entrepreneurship development, aimed at building capabilities that support India’s transition toward smart manufacturing and digitally enabled industrial systems.

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SMC Corporation (India) CSR Head, Kaushal Kapoor, said the CoE will enable structured programmes in Industrial Automation and Industry 4.0 for both industry and academic participants, focusing on reskilling and upskilling for future-ready capabilities.

BITS Pilani Vice Chancellor Prof V Ramgopal Rao said the SMC India Centre of Excellence is designed as a space where research in automation and Industry 4.0 translates into deep-tech innovation and startups.