Plaksha University launches Dixon IoT Lab
April 25, 2024: Plaksha University, a technology university reimagining higher education and research in India, announced the inauguration of the Dixon IoT Lab, a state-of-the-art facility in collaboration with Dixon Technologies (India) Limited, a leader in the electronic manufacturing services (EMS) space in India. The Lab is set to play a pivotal role in advancing research and innovation in the field of the Internet-of-Things (IoT) and aspires to design affordable and scalable IoT solutions through collaboration with industry partners. Equipped with cutting-edge resources, including sensor prototyping and precision measurement equipment, edge computing, and PCB design tools, the lab shall focus on capacity building for the Indian context, training, and enabling a comprehensive deployment of IoT.
This announcement comes close on the heels of the Punjab Police signing an MoU with Plaksha University to leverage the Dixon IoT Lab in driving research and innovation for enhanced road safety and sustainable transport practices in Punjab.
Commenting on the announcement, Prof. Rudra Pratap, Founding Vice Chancellor at Plaksha University, expressed enthusiasm, stating, "The Dixon IoT Lab reflects our commitment to innovation and research excellence at Plaksha. It will serve as a collaborative nucleus, propelling our community to the forefront of IoT technologies, besides aligning with our purpose of reimagining tech education. With this lab, we foresee a future where it plays a transformative role in shaping innovative solutions, fostering a collaborative environment, and positioning Plaksha as a key player in the technological landscape.”
In addition, Atul B Lall, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Dixon Technologies (India) Limited, expressed, "We feel that the best way to give back to society is through education and innovation in the education sector. We are very thankful from the Dixon side to become a part of Plaksha’s journey. The IoT lab is a small contribution from Dixon in this campus and we are of firm belief and conviction that with the interface and collaborative effort of universities of young minds with the industry, which is going to spur growth and innovation, we can make the country a leader in IP and design. The Dixon IoT Lab at Plaksha aligns with our mission to drive technological advancements and foster skill development in the IoT domain. The collaboration is a testament to our commitment to innovation and the shared vision of contributing to India’s growing technology leadership.”
Furthermore, Dr. Srikant Srinivasan, Dixon IoT Lab Director and Chair Associate Professor, Plaksha University, highlighted the transformative potential of the lab, stating, “The Dixon IoT Lab is set to become a vibrant hub for IoT research, innovation and application. We are eager to explore new possibilities in IoT technologies and contribute to a sustainable and connected future, starting with the local region. The lab isn't just a physical space; it's where ideas come together, fostering an environment for exciting breakthroughs. Our goal is to make a positive impact on various sectors and communities, shaping a future where technology brings about meaningful change."
The Lab will bring 6 distinct advantages to Plaksha University:
1. Develop cost-effective and scalable IoT solutions that enhance the quality of life and support sustainable development.
2. Accelerate collection of fine-grained environmental data at the city scale to understand the interactions between humans and environment in real time.
Support administrators and policy makers in monitoring the reliability and efficacy of public infrastructure in creating a safe and enabling environment for the people.
3. Develop multimodal wearables to track vital biomarkers towards digital health applications, potentially saving lives and improving healthcare outcomes.
3. Develop novel sensing techniques to empower farmers and consumers with valuable insights into food purity and nutrition.
4. Create a citywide outdoor laboratory to train students and professionals as an IoT-accomplished workforce.
About Plaksha University:
Founded by a global community of 100+ technology and business leaders, Plaksha envisions reimagining technology education and research for India and the world. With strong partnerships with UC Berkeley, Purdue, UC San Diego, IIT Kanpur, and IISc Bengaluru, Plaksha aims to nurture and empower a generation of catalytic leaders and create an ecosystem of research and innovation. The university collapses the traditional boundaries of engineering and promotes interdisciplinary learning by combining technology, design and entrepreneurship.
Plaksha is guided by an eminent academic board including Dr. Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering, University of Pennsylvania; Venkatesh Narayanamurthi, former Dean of Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Sriram Rajamani, Managing Director, Microsoft Research India; Julia Ross, Dean of Engineering, Virginia Tech; Krishna Palepu, Ross Graham Walker Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School; Sanjay Sarma, Fred Fort Flowers and Daniel Fort Flowers Professor of Mechanical Engineering, MIT; and business leaders such as Neeraj Aggarwal, Chairman – Asia Pacific, BCG; Hitesh Oberoi, Co-promoter & CEO, Info Edge (Naukri.com); Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-founder, Fractal Analytics; Manas Fuloria, Co- Founder, Nagarro; Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Vice Chairman, Bharti Enterprises; Navin Chaddha, Managing Director, Mayfield Fund; Sujeet Kumar, Co-founder, Udaan.com; Dalip Pathak, Special Limited Partner, Warburg Pincus LLC; CP Gurnani, MD & CEO, Tech Mahindra; Pramod Bhasin, Chairman, Clix Capital among others. Corporate donors include companies like Bharti Foundation, Havells, HT Parekh Foundation, Mphasis, Axis Bank and Motilal Oswal. The global community of business leaders who founded Plaksha can be seen here.
About Dixon Technologies (India) Limited:
Dixon Technologies (India) Limited is the largest* home grown design-focused and solutions company engaged in manufacturing products in the consumer durables, lighting and mobile phones markets in India. Their diversified product portfolio includes (i) consumer electronics like LED TVs; (ii) home appliances like washing machines; (iii) lighting products like LED bulbs and tubelights, downlighters; (iv) mobile phones; and (v) CCTV & DVRs (vi) Medical Equipment (vii) wearables (viii) Refrigerators. Dixon also provides solutions in reverse logistics i.e. repair and refurbishment services of LED TV panels.
*Source: Project Rise: Indian Consumer Electronics & Appliances Market Study, issued by Frost & Sullivan India Private Limited.