The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has recently inaugurated the Product Design Centre (PDC) at the Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Kolkata. This state-of-the-art facility is equipped with advanced prototyping and system designing facilities, including cutting-edge software and printing technologies for various stages of system design, prototyping, ideation, and fabrication. The inauguration ceremony was led by MeitY Additional Secretary, Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar.
The establishment of the Product Design Centre is expected to greatly benefit startups, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) in the eastern region of India. By providing access to advanced design and prototyping resources, the center aims to foster innovation and support the development of new products and technologies.
During the inauguration event, another significant development took place with the launch of the Grain-Ex Through Machine Vision Technology for Pulses. This appearance-based detection system, developed under the National Program on Electronics and ICT applications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs), in collaboration with ICAR-IARI in New Delhi, has been specifically designed for detecting the quality of 14 different types of pulses. By introducing this transformative technology into the e-NAM markets (electronic National Agriculture Market), which connect more than 1,200 markets, the Grain-Ex system is set to revolutionize quality-based pricing in the agricultural sector.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by the presence of esteemed individuals, including Smt. Sunita Verma (Group Coordinator, MeitY), Shri Aditya Kumar Sinha (Director, C-DAC, Kolkata), Dr. Om Krishan Singh (Scientist ‘D’, MeitY), industry partners, project team members, and other respected dignitaries representing various users and line ministries. Overall, the establishment of the Product Design Centre and the launch of the Grain-Ex system mark significant milestones in advancing technology and fostering innovation in India.
