Indo-German technology meet to kick off tommorow

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Distinguished scientists and engineers from the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and Germany's National Academy of Science and Engineering (Acatech) will meet in the Indian capital Thursday-Friday to mull strategies for technological co-operation in advanced manufacturing.

About fifty eminent scientists and engineers from INAE and Acatech will participate in the two-day workshop (Jan 23-24), to be presided by Dr. R Chidambaram, the principal scientific advisor to the Indian Government.

Sharing the details of the workshop, INAE president Dr Baldev Raj said, "As part of our bilateral innovation program eminent technologists will engage in strategically important research areas. The teams--from INAE and Acatech-will build a roadmap for new technologies that will help analyze ‘Big Data' for engineering applications."

Philip Petit, science counsellor at the German Embassy in India shall also address the inaugural address.

Industry 4.0 to boost Smart Manufacturing

Germany is known for its focus on R&D, innovative manufacturing technologies and the management of complex industrial processes. German know-how in embedded systems and automation engineering will enable it to tap into new type of industrialisation: Industry 4.0.

While the first three industrial revolutions were a result of mechanisation, electricity and Information Technology, the ‘Internet of Things and Services' is ushering in a fourth industrial revolution.

In the future, businesses will establish global networks that will incorporate machinery, warehousing systems and production facilities in the shape of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). In the manufacturing environment, these Cyber-Physical Systems are smart machines, storage systems and production facilities capable of exchanging information, triggering actions and controlling each other independently. This facilitates improvements in manufacturing, engineering, material usage and supply chain and life cycle management.

Efficient management of big data is critical to the Industry of tomorrow. It is predicted that Smart Factories of tomorrow will rely on autonomous, self-regulating, knowledge-based and sensor-supported production and logistics systems. Efficient storage, processing, and usage of the data is key to the entire Supply and Production Network.

Both academies will work together to improve existing techniques and develop a roadmap to use new technologies for processing and analyzing big data for engineering applications in both India and Germany.

The first joint workshop in Germany last year narrowed down the most relevant research areas in advanced manufacturing. The workshop this week shall define joint research questions and projects through interaction among leading manufacturing companies--Bharat Forge, GE, Mahindra & Mahindra, Matric Vision, Samsung and SAP -- and technology Institutions--Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Indian Institute of Science and Indian Institutes of Technology.

A series of presentations will update the attendees on the technology development, progress in deployment and generation of new knowledge in the respective countries.

A joint statement is expected to be issued at the end of the deliberations.

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