Hyderabad: IIIT Hyderabad and Hexagon R&D India partnered to establish a Digital Twin Centre of Excellence for AI-driven research, education and industry collaboration.
The Hexagon Digital Twin Centre of Excellence at the International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad will focus on applied research. Its key areas will include computer vision, spatial computing and digital twins using artificial intelligence.
Through the collaboration, IIIT Hyderabad students, faculty and researchers will gain access to Hexagon’s advanced precision imaging technology. Hexagon will provide a Leica BLK360 G2 laser scanner along with a relevant software package. The technology enables the creation of high-fidelity digital twins.
Digital Twin Centre to support applied research
The Digital Twin Centre will provide a platform for research and innovation at IIIT Hyderabad. Researchers will use the facility to develop prototypes, proofs of concept and solutions for real-world industry challenges. Moreover, students and researchers will get opportunities to work with industry-grade technologies and datasets.
The collaboration will also allow them to explore new applications involving spatial computing and computer vision. Through the initiative, IIIT Hyderabad will build on Hexagon’s global academic engagements in deep technology and foundational sciences. In addition, the collaboration aims to raise the AI quotient for India.
IIIT Hyderabad Director Prof. Sandeep K. Shukla said the partnership would provide researchers and students with advanced technologies and real-world spatial data. “This collaboration with Hexagon will give our researchers and students access to advanced technologies and real-world spatial data,” Shukla said.
He added that the partnership would create opportunities to move research from laboratories to practical applications. “We look forward to building a strong research and innovation ecosystem through this Centre of Excellence,” he said.
Digital Twin Centre to offer industry technologies
Navaneet Mishra, Senior Vice President and Head of Hexagon’s R&D India, said digital representations of the physical world were creating new possibilities. “The ability to capture, understand and digitally represent the physical world is opening up new possibilities across industries,” Mishra said.
Through the lab, students and researchers will gain access to Hexagon technologies and real-world challenges, he added. Mishra described the collaboration with IIIT Hyderabad as a proud moment for Hexagon. He referred to the institute as India’s leading Computer Science and AI research institute.
Meanwhile, Hexagon AB AI Hub Vice President Nora Hollenstein highlighted the company’s academic collaborations globally. “Hexagon has research collaborations across the globe, and I am excited to bring it to India now,” Hollenstein said.
She said the collaboration aimed to create an environment where researchers could test ideas. Furthermore, deeper research could help create solutions for real-world applications, she added. The Digital Twin Centre will bring together academic research and industry technology while focusing on AI, spatial computing and computer vision.