Pune, Maharashtra, India –September 18, 2020 – La Fondation Dassault Systèmes launched their virtual conference “ConnectNext Conference,” a committed program to create vibrant industry-academia eco system to address the talent readiness and employability challenges by helping students to be ‘Future Ready’. It is a unique platform to demonstrate emerging talent from Indian engineering colleges to Industries across the country. This conference showcased emerging engineering talent through student projects demonstrating their engineering knowledge and adoption of upcoming technologies.

The virtual conference helped engineering industries to witness ‘Future Ready’ young talent, which is raring to work on the challenges of future. The conference kicked off with a plenary session showcasing exemplary state of the art student projects like: Pavan Mitra by Vishwakarma Institute of Technology-Pune, 2 Seater Solar Car Dream to Reality by Nagesh karajagi Karajagi Orchid College of Engineering and Technology-Solapur, Multi-Nozzle Pesticide Sprayer for Agriculture by Sanjivani College of Engineering, Kopergaon. The aim of the program lies in addressing “Employability and Talent readiness” challenges by helping students to be “Future Ready”, showcasing next generation talent to get ready with sound engineering base  and being comfortable with the upcoming technologies.

One of main attractions of the ConnectNext Conference was the virtual playground where 100 innovative projects selected by technical experts from the projects nominated by colleges across India were showcased in virtual booths. The industry visitors had an opportunity to witness these projects and also interact with the concerned students over interactive chat sessions.

The plenary session of the conference was addressed by thought leaders from industries, academia, government agencies, French embassy and La Fondation Dassault Systemes including Mr. Venkatesh Natarajan, Chief Digital Officer and CIO – ‎Ashok Leyland (Chief Guest), Dr. Deepak Kumar HOTA, Chairman & MD, BEML(Guest of Honor), Dr. Neeraj SHARMA, Secretary, Technology Development Board, Govt. of India, Prof. Subhasis Chaudhuri – Director IIT – Mumbai,  Mr. Olivier FUDYM- Science and Academic Attaché – Western Region in the presence of Mr. Sudarshan MOGASALE, India-CEO-‎Dassault Systemes Solutions Lab, Mr. Deepak N G, Managing Director, ‎Dassault Systemes India, Thibault DE TERSANT, Senior Executive Vice President, Dassault Systemes and Honorary Chairman La Fondation Dassault Systemes India.