Assam launches Digital Design & 3D Printing Centre of Excellence to boost MSME innovation
Guwahati, July 21
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday inaugurated the Digital Design and 3D Printing Centre of Excellence in Guwahati, saying the facility will strengthen the state's manufacturing ecosystem by promoting innovation, rapid prototyping and indigenous product development across multiple sectors.
Announcing the inauguration in a post on X, the Chief Minister said the Centre of Excellence would bring advanced digital design, additive manufacturing and rapid prototyping capabilities to Assam, providing industries and entrepreneurs access to cutting-edge manufacturing technologies.
According to Sarma, the facility has been designed to support innovation in sectors such as healthcare, aerospace, energy, agriculture and other emerging industries by enabling faster product design, testing and development.
The Chief Minister said the Centre would play a key role in accelerating new product development and enhancing the competitiveness of Assam's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
He added that local entrepreneurs and startups would be able to develop innovative products within the state, reducing dependence on imported technologies and components.
"This will also accelerate new product development and encourage our MSMEs to build solutions right here in Assam, India, acting as a very potent import substitution tool," Sarma said.
The Chief Minister has repeatedly emphasised the importance of technology-driven industrial growth as the state seeks to attract investments under its broader vision of transforming Assam into a manufacturing and innovation hub in the Northeast.
The establishment of the Digital Design and 3D Printing Centre of Excellence is expected to provide access to advanced design software, additive manufacturing technologies and rapid prototyping facilities, enabling researchers, students, startups and industries to convert ideas into commercially viable products with shorter development cycles.
The initiative is also in line with the state government's efforts to promote innovation-led entrepreneurship, strengthen the MSME sector and create an ecosystem that supports high-value manufacturing.
A senior official argued that the facility will help bridge the gap between research and industry while encouraging the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies, contributing to Assam's industrial diversification and supporting the country's broader goal of enhancing self-reliance through domestic manufacturing.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Finally, some real focus on digital manufacturing in the Northeast! Guwahati has the potential to become a hub if infrastructure improves. Hope this Centre of Excellence provides affordable access to startups and students too, not just big industries.
Impressive initiative! 3D printing can really transform prototyping for small businesses. But I hope the actual benefits reach the grassroots MSMEs in rural Assam, not just those in Guwahati. Otherwise it'll be just another urban-centric project.
This is brilliant! Healthcare and agriculture sectors in Assam will benefit hugely from custom 3D-printed tools and prototypes. Reducing import dependency is the need of the hour. Hope they also conduct training programs for local engineers and designers. 🙌
Good idea on paper, but we've seen many such centres remain underutilized due to lack of awareness and high operational costs. The state should tie up with IIT Guwahati and local engineering colleges to ensure continuous innovation and maintenance of these facilities.
Even if this helps just a handful of entrepreneurs develop indigenous products, it's worth it. The Northeast has unique needs in agriculture and healthcare that mass-market imports can't address. Let's hope the execution matches the vision.
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