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IIT Kharagpur Joins the Global Digital Twin Consortium, Expanding Its Role in AI-Driven Innovation
Photo credit; IIT Kharagpur and TCS have developed automation technology that remotely controls factories and enables real-time quality correction.
In a significant step toward strengthening its global engagement in emerging technologies, the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur has joined the Digital Twin Consortium, a global alliance dedicated to accelerating the development and adoption of digital twin systems across industries. A digital twin is a dynamic virtual representation of a real‑world object, system, or process that is continuously updated with real‑time data from its physical counterpart; this living model enables simulation, monitoring, prediction, and optimization of performance in ways that traditional simulations cannot match. (Digital Twin Consortium)
The consortium announced the membership in January 2026, noting that IIT Kharagpur’s strengths in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cutting‑edge research will contribute significantly to advancing the field and expanding digital twin applications globally. As part of the consortium, the institute will collaborate with industry leaders, participate in technology testbeds, and help shape next‑generation digital twin frameworks that integrate AI‑enhanced modelling and simulation methodologies.
This development builds on IIT Kharagpur’s broader strategic efforts in digital innovation. Researchers at the institute have already been working on advanced digital twin technologies as part of India’s march toward Industry 4.0 — a transformation of manufacturing and industrial systems driven by data, connectivity, automation, and intelligent systems. In collaboration with industry partners such as Tata Consultancy Services, faculty at the Centre of Excellence in Advanced Manufacturing Technology are developing sophisticated multi‑sensory systems that combine automation, real‑time quality monitoring, machine learning, and digital twin models to improve manufacturing processes and quality control — efforts that showcase how digital twin technologies can underpin smarter, more efficient industrial operations. (TechChannel News)
Professor Suman Chakraborty, Director of IIT Kharagpur, highlighted the value of this partnership, explaining that joining the Digital Twin Consortium “enables our institution to collaborate with global industry leaders while providing our students and researchers direct access to cutting‑edge technologies and methodologies.” He emphasized that the consortium’s collaborative initiatives will benefit both academic research and real‑world applications, as members work together on proof‑of‑value projects, multi‑agent system integration, and comprehensive case studies.
The membership also creates opportunities for curriculum development, seminars, workshops, and training programs that bring students into closer contact with industry practices in digital twin technologies. With access to the consortium’s global network, IIT Kharagpur aims to elevate its research footprint while preparing future engineers for a world where digital twins increasingly drive decision‑making and innovation across sectors from manufacturing to smart cities.
Arjun Malhotra, co‑founder of HCL and Chairman of Magic Software Inc., celebrated the announcement, noting that this collaboration “represents a pivotal moment in bridging academic excellence with real‑world industrial applications,” and expressing pride in his alma mater’s role in shaping technologies that help industries optimize their operations and drive transformation worldwide.
“Joining the Digital Twin Consortium enables our institution to collaborate with global industry leaders while providing our students and researchers direct access to cutting‑edge technologies and methodologies.” — Professor Suman Chakraborty, Director, IIT Kharagpur (Digital Twin Consortium)
This strategic partnership with the Digital Twin Consortium marks a significant milestone for IIT Kharagpur, reinforcing its position at the forefront of technological innovation while helping to define how digital twin technologies evolve and are adopted around the world.
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The IITKGP Foundation