Ramdeobaba University (RBU), Nagpur, inaugurated the ACM Winter School 2025 on the theme “Engineering the Future with Digital Twin”, marking the beginning of a ten-day intensive academic program scheduled from 15 to 24 December 2025.

The Winter School is being organized by Ramdeobaba University with Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur as the Academic Partner, Persistent Systems as the Local Industry Partner, and strong research support from TCS Research. The program aims to provide participants with in-depth exposure to Digital Twin technologies, their architectures, simulation workflows, optimization techniques, and real-world applications across industrial and societal systems.

The inaugural ceremony commenced with the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, symbolizing the pursuit of knowledge and innovation, in the presence of eminent academicians, industry leaders, and Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) office bearers.

The distinguished dignitaries present during the function were Mr. Vinay Kulkarni, TCS Fellow and Head – Software Systems and Services Research; Dr. M. B. Chandak, Director (Academics) and Principal, RCOEM; Dr. Padma Adane, Dean, School of Computer Science and Engineering, RBU; Dr. Preeti Voditel, Head, Department of CSE, RBU and Local Host Coordinator; Dr. Umesh Deshpande, Professor and Head, Department of CSE, VNIT and Academic Coordinator; Dr. Ravindra Keskar, Associate Professor, VNIT and Chair, ACM Professional Nagpur Chapter; Mr. Lakshman Potbhare, Principal Engineering Manager, Persistent Systems and Secretary, ACM Nagpur Chapter; and Mr. Vineet Kapoor, Chief Architect, Persistent Systems.

First, Mr. Laxman Potbhare acquainted the gathering with ACM and highlighted its significant contributions to the global computing community. This was followed by Dr. Ravindra Keskar, who briefed the audience on the objectives and scope of the ACM Winter School. Subsequently, Dr. Umesh Deshpande shared his insights on the theme and relevance of the program. Dr. M.B. Chandak introduced the host institute.

The Chief Guest, Mr. Vinay Kulkarni, in his address, shared valuable insights on the role of Digital Twins in shaping future digital engineering practices and encouraged students to engage deeply with emerging technologies and research-driven innovation.

Addressing the gathering, speakers highlighted the growing relevance of Digital Twin technologies in modern engineering systems and emphasized the importance of collaborationbetween academia, industry, and professional bodies like ACM. A Digital Twin is a dynamic, virtual replica of a physical object, system, or process, connected by real-time data from sensors allowing for simulation, monitoring, and analysis to optimize performance and predict outcomes throughout its lifecycle.

The ACM Winter School 2025 brings together eminent speakers from TCS Research, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and Monash University, Australia, ensuring a focused and rigorous learning experience. A total of 50 selected participants are attending the Winter School, representing diverse geographies including France, Aligarh, Hyderabad, Pune, Surat, Chennai, Vijayawada, and Nagpur, fostering a rich academic exchange.

With its strong academic foundation and industry engagement, the ACM Winter School 2025 promises to be a transformative learning platform, equipping participants to engineer future-ready digital systems through the lens of Digital Twin technology.

Inaugural of ACM Winter School 2025 [Left to Right: Mr. Laxman Potbhare, Dr. Umesh Deshpande, Dr. M.B. Chandak, Mr. Vinay Kulkarni, Dr. Preeti Voditel, Dr. Ravindra Keskar, Dr. Padma Adane]