28th July 2020: La Fondation Dassault Systèmes (Dassault Systèmes Foundation in India) launched the first India edition of “Made in 3D – Seed The Future Entrepreneurs,” a dedicated program to inspire school students to become future innovators and entrepreneurs. The program was initiated in France by La Main à la Pate Foundation and La Fondation Dassault Systèmes and it is now proven to be successful in developing the innovative and creative potential of students.
The India edition of the “Made in 3D – Seed The Future Entrepreneurs” program kicked off with ten schools from Pune: Dr. Kalmadi Shamarao High School, Aundh, BREI’S Blue Ridge Public School, City Pride School, Muktangan Exploratory Science Centre, Jnana Prabodhini Prashala, Dr. Kalmadi Shamarao High School, Ganesh Nagar, The Orchid School, Millennium National School, Flora Valley School and Sanskriti School. The schools have a proven track record, appropriate infrastructure and highly motivated team of science teachers. The aim of the program is to introduce students to the exciting world of product design, 3D digital technologies, 3D printing, and product promotion, as well as to the culture of “makers” and startups. For young students, such a challenge is an opening toward an innovation mindset.
The selected schools will form teams comprising of one teacher and six students with one team per school and students in the age group of 12 to 16 years between 8th and 10th standard. These students need to design and manufacture their dream product using specialized 3D design software and 3D printing technology. The product should be physically tangible, can be an assembly of parts, and major portions of the product should be 3D printed. Each team is expected to work as a startup and the students are required to participate in the entire process of creation, from the early design to the marketing of their “product,” with the help of promotional videos, mailers and communication campaigns.
The teachers and students will be mentored by technical experts on various technology topics. Experts from Dassault Systèmes as well as external domain experts will conduct a series of workshops for all the teams.
The program was inaugurated at a virtual function by Dr. Shekhar Mande, Director General of Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, and Dr. Jerome Bove, Scientific and academic attaché, Embassy of France in India, in the presence of Marie-Pierre Aulas, Global General Manager, La Fondation Dassault Systemes; David Jasmin, Director, La Main à La Pate Foundation, and Manish Tambe, CEO, Dassault Systèmes Global Services, India.
La Fondation Dassault Systèmes aims to expand the program to all India levels next year. Schools selected in the first year will play the nodal centres / mentors role for new schools joining the program in the next year and onwards.
