The Assam government has inaugurated a Digital Design and additive manufacturing centre of excellence in Guwahati, signalling a push towards technology driven manufacturing across the state. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma opened the facility and outlined its intended role in fostering innovation, product development and entrepreneurship. The centre will provide industries, startups and researchers with access to advanced digital manufacturing tools and additive manufacturing capabilities. Officials said the facility aims to strengthen the state innovation ecosystem and reduce dependence on external prototyping services.

The centre is designed to offer digital design, rapid prototyping and end to end product testing, enabling faster iteration from concept to market. It includes equipment for additive fabrication, post processing and design simulation, together with software platforms for computer aided design and testing. The facility is expected to support sectors such as healthcare, aerospace, energy, agriculture and advanced manufacturing by shortening development cycles and lowering costs. Local entrepreneurs are likely to benefit from quicker access to prototypes without needing to use distant specialised facilities.

Authorities expect the centre to act as a collaborative platform linking research institutions, students, startups and manufacturers, with an emphasis on skill development and knowledge transfer. By bringing design and fabrication capabilities within the state, the initiative aims to nurture indigenous product development and support industrial diversification. The initiative intends to create new opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises by providing training, shared infrastructure and technical assistance. This approach is intended to boost competitiveness of Assam based industries and promote technology led entrepreneurship.

The launch aligns with the state government strategy to attract investment, strengthen high value manufacturing and support self reliance through domestic design and production. Officials noted the centre will help reduce time to market for product ideas and encourage investment in high technology sectors. The government plans to use the facility to demonstrate manufacturing use cases and to incentivise collaboration between the public and private sectors. Longer term goals include building a skilled workforce and positioning Assam as a regional hub for innovation led manufacturing.