Sangam: Digital Twin Initiative Outreach in Hyderabad

The third and the final outreach programme for Sangam: Digital Twin initiative of Department of Telecommunications (DoT) was successfully held on March 12th in Hyderabad. The event hosted at IIIT Hyderabad brought together leaders, innovators, and stakeholders from various sectors to explore the diverse applications and implications of the Sangam Digital Twin initiative.

Building upon the momentum generated by previous events at Delhi and Bangalore, the Hyderabad programme featured deliberations primarily focused on the expertise and technological developments undertaken by the industry and startup eco-system in India, that may be retrofitted to achieve the goals of Digital Twin initiative.

Joining virtually, Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary Telecom highlighted the convergence of major tech players, startups, and talent in the area, and underscored the programme's aim to explore cutting-edge solutions for integrated infrastructure planning and execution through Digital Twin technologies.  The Secretary also drew attention to the significance of Hyderabad as a burgeoning technical hub.

He also articulated the need for large-scale deployment of digital twins across diverse sectors, illustrating with an example of aligning road construction with environmental considerations. Additionally, he stressed on the importance of staying ahead in the digital landscape and invited collaboration to realize this ambitious vision.

Prof Naryanan P J, Director, IIIT Hyderabad, highlighted the transformative impact of computing and communication technologies on society, emphasizing the ubiquitous use of mobile devices and the importance of communication infrastructure like 3G, 4G, 5G, and now 6G. Noting the significance of digital twins technology for cities and nations, he emphasised the interconnectedness of communication and computation. He explained capabilities of IIIT Hyderabad in AI and machine learning and also extended an invitation to an upcoming R&D showcase event.

WG Cdr Anish Anthony (Retd), COO, T-Hub, emphasized the rapid pace of technological evolution and the importance of innovation for staying relevant in various sectors, especially in the digital realm. He highlighted the need for startups to have access to funding, supportive ecosystems, and the right partnerships to thrive in such a dynamic environment. He called upon the incubators to explore the transformative potential of digital twins.

Ms Rama Devi, Director (EC&IT), State Government shared about digital ecosystem development through policy frameworks and Centre of Excellences. She also mentioned about AI tech solutions across diverse sectors like Transport, agriculture etc. She also dwelt on block chain initiatives, drone adaption, Digital Public Infrastructure, and Digital public Goods. She focussed on digital twins as identified high impact technology in Telangana’s ICT policy.

Session Highlights:

The first session highlighted potential applications and impacts of Digital Twin technology across various sectors. WASH Innovation Hub show-cased how Digital Twin technology is revolutionizing WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) infrastructure enabling strategic planning and responsible asset utilization, Meta presented innovative applications of Digital Twin technology using Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

TCS presented TwinX, a digital twin-based simulator designed for risk-free experimentation, planning, and effective decision-making. Subsequently, Google shared insights on the Privacy Enhancing Techniques (PETs) and IIIT Hyderabad shared their insights on leveraging Digital Twin technology to develop sustainable water ecosystems.

The second session featured insightful sessions spanning diverse aspects of technology and innovation. Qualcomm shed light on the transformative potential of leveraging 5G and AI technologies, while T-Hub highlighted the crucial role of incubators in fostering innovation. Hexagon R&D India explored the concept of digital reality for smart city development, and Deloitte emphasized the role of digital twins and AI in empowering infrastructure planning.

Perspectives from the Telangana State Government provided insights into initiatives aimed at driving sustainable development, Neurom Innovations showcased pioneering efforts in smart infrastructure development. Also, PES University discussed innovative approaches to skill development through digital twins, and Readypods Technologies presented sustainable energy solutions for data centres. These sessions collectively underscored the transformative impact of technology and innovation on infrastructure development, fostering inclusive and sustainable growth in India's digital landscape.

A series of stakeholder workshops were hosted  during the outreach programmes in Delhi and Bengaluru, to tap into the interest and expertise of leaders, startups, MSMEs, academia, innovators, and forward-thinkers.

The success of the Sangam: Digital Twin initiative in Hyderabad reflected a shared commitment towards harnessing technology for inclusive growth and sustainable development. As India charts its path towards a digitally empowered future, collaborations between industry, startups government entities, and academia will play a pivotal role in shaping the digital landscape for generations to come.

Digital Twin technology holds the potential to create enthralling insights fostering real time decision making and collaborative planning of infrastructure.

All three outreach programmes have successfully concluded today ahead of  the last date for submission of Expressions of Interest (EoI) on 15th March 2024 at www. sangam.sancharsaathi.gov.in.