Thaindian News

Bangalore, Nov 8 (IANS) Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Tuesday unveiled the Robert Bosch Centre for Cyber Physical Systems at the premier Indian Institute of Science (IISc) here.

“I believe that the Bosch-IISc team will take the lead in bringing out innovation in automotive vehicles and deal with the significant areas of bio-medical, nano, info and eco systems,” Kalam said after inaugurating the centre.

The 47-billion euro German supplier of industrial products and services has earmarked Rs.140 crore for funding the centre as part of its global initiative - the “Bosch Inter-Campus Programme”.

The Bosch Group announced in May that it would invest Rs.300 crore in universities and research projects in Germany, China, India, and the US over the next 10 years. Of the total amount, around 47 percent will be invested in projects that will be carried out at the premier science institute.

“The centre aims to achieve lasting improvements in research conditions for under-graduates and scientists in the university sphere. The programme will accelerate progress in the fields of environment, energy, and mobility,” Bosch India Ltd managing director V.K. Viswanathan said on the occasion.

For instance, cyber physical systems will address green technology and conserve energy in buildings. A house of the future will know what energy prices are and what the local weather is like, and optimise its energy consumption according to the needs of its occupants.

“Bosch is creating a campus for IT design, cyber physical systems, mobility solutions and renewable energy in collaboration with the leading Indian scientific institute (IISc),” Viswanathan said.

As technology solutions need to keep pace with life and young talented researchers need assistance, the centre will facilitate innovation in cutting edge futuristic technologies that benefit society and environment.

“With our funding for higher education in India, we want to challenge the spirit of innovation amongst future technology specialists,” said Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Ltd managing director Vijay Ratnaparkhe.

The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and about 350 subsidiaries and regional companies across 60 countries.

The group spent 3.8 billion euros in research and development (R&D;) in 2010 in areas of automotive and industrial products, consumer goods and building technology and applied for 3,800 patents worldwide.

The Bosch Group operates in India through six companies — Bosch Ltd, Bosch Chassis Systems India Ltd, Bosch Rexroth India Ltd, Robert Bosch Engineering & Business Solutions Ltd, Bosch Automotive Electronics India Pvt Ltd and Bosch Electrical Drives India Pvt Ltd.