Cisco & Rockwell Automation Partner to Close Digital Skills Gap in Manufacturing
February 24, 2025 | PRNewswireEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking and security, and Rockwell Automation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand their strategic partnership and launch the 'Digital Skills for Industry' program. Addressing the growing skills gap in India's manufacturing sector, the program aims to empower the next generation of workers with essential digital skills, combining IT and OT curriculums in the areas of cybersecurity, networking, IoT, data science, AI, programming and automation technologies. To meet the evolving demands of the industry, the program aims to improve digital literacy in industry, attract new talent, enhance workforce productivity, help accelerate career growth and bridge the global digital divide.
With a vision of exporting goods worth USD 1 trillion by 2030, India is well on its way to cementing itself as a major manufacturing hub. However, a shortage of skilled workers poses a significant barrier to progress. In fact, according to a Team Lease report, by FY 2027-28 while the electronics manufacturing industry is expected to generate 12 million jobs, yet a staggering skills gap of 10 million trained professionals persists. Bridging this skills gap is critical to ensure that India's manufacturing industry remains globally competitive, efficient, and future-ready.
To address this gap, organizations are intensifying their investments in operational technology while prioritizing workforce upskilling. In July 2024, Cisco and Rockwell Automation signed an MOU pledging to close the digital skills gap in manufacturing across the Asia-Pacific region through social impact programs which include the Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad). In India, NetAcad has already trained more than 2.2 million students through collaborations with educational institutions and industry partners. With courses in emerging technologies such as networking, programming, and cybersecurity, NetAcad is equipping the workforce with the skills needed to succeed in the jobs of the future.
"As we navigate the digital-first era, we're witnessing a significant shift where industries without the right skilled talent risk falling behind. This transformation, driven by AI and emerging technologies, is especially critical for the manufacturing sector," said Daisy Chittilapilly, President, Cisco India & SAARC "We are excited to partner with Rockwell Automation to build a future-ready, skilled workforce that can bring to life new possibilities of digital technologies, paving the way for a smarter and globally competitive manufacturing landscape."
"India's manufacturing sector is poised to be a key engine of the nation's economic transformation. Amidst rapid technological advancements, the need for workforce upskilling and reskilling has never been more urgent. Rockwell Automation's 9th annual State of Smart Manufacturing report identifies 'change management' as the top workforce challenge for 2024, highlighting the crucial role of human capital in the adoption of smart manufacturing technologies," said Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director, Rockwell Automation India.
Recognizing the growing need for skilled workforce in automation technologies, Rockwell Automation offers solutions to helps both customers to upskill workers and academic institutions to train students in industry-relevant skills. These training solutions can be deployed with Rockwell Automation support through a blend of virtual or instructor-led courses to help enterprises mitigate workforce challenges and prepare for the future of smart manufacturing. These courses, spread across a variety of fundamental and product-specific automation technology topics, deliver a training solution that can be implemented directly on the plant floor, in classrooms, or through virtual sessions.
"While companies are committed to maintaining and even expanding their workforce in this era of automation, simply hiring isn't enough. A strategic investment in robust upskilling and reskilling programs is essential. These programs must empower workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to leverage emerging technologies effectively. By cultivating a dynamic talent ecosystem equipped for the future of manufacturing, we can realize India's national vision: establishing the country as a global manufacturing powerhouse, competitive on the world stage," added Dilip Sawhney.
Suggested Items
IPC Releases March 2025 Global Sentiment of the Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain Report
04/02/2025 | IPCThis past March, electronics industry demand strengthened to its highest level in nearly a year, indicating strong expansion in customer and manufacturing activity according to IPC’s [IPC-Current-Sentimen-Global-EMSChain0525.pdf] March Sentiment of the Global Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain Report.
STMicroelectronics, Innoscience Sign GaN Technology Development and Manufacturing Agreement
04/02/2025 | STMicroelectronicsSTMicroelectronics, a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, and Innoscience, the world leader in 8” GaN-on-Si (gallium nitride on silicon) high-performance low-cost manufacturing, announce the signature of an agreement on GaN technology development and manufacturing, leveraging the strengths of each company to enhance GaN power solutions and supply chain resilience.
Federal Electronics Welcomes Joel Robbins as New Business Development Manager
04/02/2025 | Federal ElectronicsFederal Electronics, a leader in providing advanced electronic manufacturing services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Joel Robbins as Business Development Manager.
IPC APEX EXPO 2025 Review: Shifting My Focus to the Show Floor
04/02/2025 | John Watson, CIDIPC APEX EXPO 2025 marked a significant milestone as it celebrated its 25th anniversary. (Personally, I don’t think it looked a day over 20.) If you didn’t attend this great event, why not? This was my 10th anniversary of attending, and it had a distinctly different feel. There was a celebratory atmosphere as both veterans, like myself, and first-time attendees, were drawn into a celebratory occasion marking the significant milestone of the 25th anniversary.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: Tariffs and Supply Chains in U.S. Electronics Manufacturing
04/01/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOChris Mitchell, VP of Global Government Relations for IPC, discusses IPC's concerns about tariffs on copper and their impact on U.S. electronics manufacturing. He emphasizes the complexity of supply chains and the need for policymakers to understand their effects.