Dassault Systemes Centre of Excellence (CoE AD & AI)
Setup of Virtual Engineering Design and Innovation Centre (VEDIC) at PMEC, Berhampur
The Government of Odisha has established Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Government Engineering Colleges to enhance students’ employability, develop Industry 4.0 skills, and bridge the gap between academia and industry. As part of this initiative, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed on 8 October 2021 at the World Skill Centre, Bhubaneswar, in the virtual presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Odisha. The agreement was executed among Parala Maharaja Engineering College (PMEC), Berhampur, Gram Taranga Employability Training Services Pvt. Ltd., Dassault Systèmes, and Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT), Odisha for establishing a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in the domains of Aerospace, Automotive, Defence, and Allied Industries.
A 3DEXPERIENCE Hub was subsequently established at PMEC, Berhampur, with Gram Taranga Employability Training Services Pvt. Ltd. serving as the training partner, Dassault Systèmes as the technology and software partner, and financial support provided by Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT), Odisha. The Centre has been named the Virtual Engineering Design and Innovation Centre (VEDIC). Dr. Balaji Kumar Choudhury, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, serves as the Professor-in-Charge of the Centre.
The VEDIC facility comprises the following state-of-the-art infrastructure:- A smart classroom for training and academic sessions.
- A 3DEXPERIENCE Computer Laboratory equipped with advanced engineering design software.
- An AR/VR Laboratory featuring HTC VIVE systems and a 3D projector for immersive learning.
- An Ideation Centre to facilitate project discussions, innovation, and collaborative learning.
- A Maker’s Lab equipped with a 3D printer for rapid prototyping and product development.
The Centre offers specialized training programmes in design, manufacturing, fabrication, and maintenance for industries such as Aerospace, Automotive, Defence, and other allied sectors. These programmes primarily benefit undergraduate students of Mechanical Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Production Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Civil Engineering, enabling them to acquire industry-relevant technical competencies.
The Centre of Excellence follows a Hub-and-Spoke model. PMEC, Berhampur functions as the Hub, while constituent and affiliated engineering colleges under BPUT, Odisha act as Spokes. Through this model, VEDIC extends advanced training, skill development programmes, and industry-oriented learning opportunities to engineering students across the BPUT network, thereby strengthening technical education and enhancing employability throughout the state.
