BITS Pilani WILP Inaugurates Smart Manufacturing Competency Centre in Bengaluru

BITS Pilani, through its Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP), recently inaugurated its Smart Manufacturing Competency Centre (SMCC) in Bengaluru — the second in a planned series of Competency Centres that BITS Pilani WILP is establishing across India in 2026, following the successful launch of the Automotive Competency Centre (ACC) in Chennai in February. Designed as an integrated ecosystem that combines experiential learning, applied research, industry collaboration, and faculty development, the SMCC will enable working professionals, students, and faculty to engage with real-world engineering challenges and drive India’s capabilities in smart manufacturing and digital industrial transformation.BITS Pilani, through its Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP), recently inaugurated its Smart Manufacturing Competency Centre (SMCC) in Bengaluru — the second in a planned series of Competency Centres that BITS Pilani WILP is establishing across India in 2026, following the successful launch of the Automotive Competency Centre (ACC) in Chennai in February. Designed as an integrated ecosystem that combines experiential learning, applied research, industry collaboration, and faculty development, the SMCC will enable working professionals, students, and faculty to engage with real-world engineering challenges and drive India’s capabilities in smart manufacturing and digital industrial transformation.

Bengaluru has been strategically chosen as the home of the Smart Manufacturing Competency Centre (SMCC), given its position as India’s leading technology and industrial hub. With a dense ecosystem spanning aerospace, defence, electronics, automotive, and advanced manufacturing, the city brings together global leaders, Tier-1 suppliers, and agile MSMEs. This unique industrial landscape creates a powerful opportunity for deep industry–academia collaboration, enabling the SMCC to function not just as a training centre, but as a problem-solving and innovation partner for industry.

A Hub for Next-Generation Manufacturing Skills

The SMCC is designed to directly address real-world manufacturing challenges through a combination of applied research, hands-on experimentation, and industry-driven projects. Its core focus areas, Mechatronics & Industrial Automation, IIoT, AI/ML for Manufacturing, Digital Twins & Virtual Commissioning, and Advanced Robotics, are not treated as isolated technologies, but as integrated tools to solve problems related to productivity, quality, downtime, energy efficiency, and process optimization.

At the heart of the Centre is a learning factory environment, where industrial problems can be replicated, studied, and solved in a controlled yet realistic setting. This enables companies to experiment with solutions, validate concepts, and de-risk implementation before deploying them on the shop floor. A key priority of the SMCC is to support MSMEs in their digital transformation journey, particularly in overcoming the financial and technical barriers associated with adopting advanced technologies.

The Centre provides a platform where MSMEs can:

Prototype and test solutions without disrupting their existing operations

• Access state-of-the-art infrastructure without significant capital investment
• Work alongside experts and students to co-develop practical, scalable solutions
• Evaluate ROI before full-scale deployment, reducing risk and uncertainty 
   

To support this mission, the Centre is equipped with advanced laboratories in Mechatronics, Machine Vision, Industry 4.0/5.0 systems, Industrial Robotics, Extended Reality (XR), and Rapid Prototyping. These facilities form a cohesive ecosystem where ideas can move seamlessly from concept to prototype to validated solution. Through this integrated approach, the SMCC aims to go beyond skill development, serving as a hub for industrial innovation, collaborative research, and technology adoption, ultimately enabling organizations of all scales to transition towards smarter, more resilient manufacturing systems.

Speaking at the inauguration, Prof V Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani, said, “The Smart Manufacturing Competency Centre in Bengaluru marks a significant step in BITS Pilani’s commitment to aligning academic rigor with industry needs. Located in India’s technology capital, the SMCC will empower organizations, working professionals, students, and faculty to confront real manufacturing challenges, drive digital innovation, and contribute meaningfully to India’s journey towards self-reliance in advanced manufacturing. We are committed to building a network of such Centres that creates lasting, scalable impact across India’s industrial landscape.”

Prof G Sundar, Director, BITS Pilani WILP Division, added, “The SMCC in Bengaluru is a pivotal initiative that reflects our vision of creating learning environments that evolve in step with industry. By integrating academic rigour with hands-on, laboratory-based experiences in the most consequential areas of modern manufacturing, we are equipping learners with skills that are immediately applicable and enduringly relevant. This Centre will not only serve our working professional students and their employers but will also contribute to the broader digital transformation of India’s manufacturing sector and its emergence as a global industrial leader.”

Seshnath B, CEO & MD, Walvoil Fluid Power India Pvt Ltd, said, “The Smart Manufacturing Competency Centre at BITS Pilani is a decisive step toward shaping India’s industrial future, showcasing forward‑thinking technologies with strong proof‑of‑concept demonstrations. By putting future-thinking technologies on display and validating them through proof of concept, it shows the depth of expertise one expects from a renowned institution and highlights a meaningful commitment to industry collaboration. The SMCC will play a critical role in accelerating the adoption of transformative technologies such as Industry 4.0, machine learning, and AI. We extend our best wishes to the BITS Pilani Centre in Bengaluru and look forward to exploring collaborative opportunities that will drive impactful projects and strengthen India’s manufacturing ecosystem.”

About Inauguration

The Smart Manufacturing Competency Centre was inaugurated in the presence of BITS Pilani leadership and faculty, including Prof V Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice Chancellor; Prof G Sundar, Director (Off-Campus Programmes & Industry Engagement); and Prof PB Venkataraman, Dean – Work Integrated Learning Programmes (WILP). Distinguished industry leaders at the inauguration included G Sundararaman, Chief Scientist and Head, Wipro Research; Chandrakant Chandarkar, Head – Quality and Information Technology, Tata Advanced Systems Ltd; Nandini, Director, TESCOM Pvt Ltd and Vice President, ELCIA; and the Managing Director of Walvoil Fluid Power India. Their collective presence underscored the SMCC’s positioning as a strategic, industry-endorsed initiative to build future-ready competencies in smart manufacturing.

Image Source: BITS Pilani