As India accelerates its journey toward becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse, Rockwell Automation, Inc. and Cisco have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at transforming the country’s industrial landscape. By combining advanced industrial automation with secure digital infrastructure, the partnership seeks to help manufacturers build smarter, more resilient, and globally competitive operations.
The collaboration introduces a Full-Stack Software-Defined Manufacturing (SDM) reference design, a first-of-its-kind framework that integrates information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT). In addition, the companies have launched a Software-Defined Manufacturing Demo Pod at Rockwell Automation’s Gurugram facility in collaboration with Cisco’s Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program. They also unveiled a joint digital skills initiative to prepare India’s manufacturing workforce for the next era of industrial innovation.
Enabling the Shift to AI-Driven Manufacturing
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting India’s national manufacturing vision by helping industries transition from conventional automation to AI-enabled autonomous operations.
Many manufacturers continue to face challenges in integrating IT and OT systems, limiting their ability to fully leverage artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and real-time operational insights. To address these challenges, the Full-Stack Software-Defined Manufacturing reference design combines Cisco’s software-defined networking capabilities with Rockwell Automation’s software-defined automation technologies. As a result, manufacturers can establish secure, resilient, and highly observable production environments that simplify operations while strengthening cybersecurity.
Moreover, the integrated architecture enables secure data movement across enterprise and plant-floor systems. This allows manufacturers to gain real-time visibility into operations, generate actionable insights, improve production efficiency, reduce operational risks, and support AI-powered decision-making—all while maintaining regulatory compliance and protecting critical industrial assets.
Demonstration Facility to Accelerate Industry Adoption
A key milestone of the collaboration is the launch of the Software-Defined Manufacturing Demo Pod at Rockwell Automation’s Gurugram facility. Designed as a collaborative innovation center, the Demo Pod will enable manufacturers, technology partners, and industry stakeholders to experience software-defined manufacturing solutions firsthand. The facility provides an environment where organizations can validate new technologies, co-create customized solutions, and accelerate the deployment of digital manufacturing initiatives. Importantly, the Demo Pod will help manufacturers move beyond pilot projects and scale successful implementations across multiple plants and production lines, thereby reducing deployment risks and accelerating digital transformation.
Bridging India’s Manufacturing Skills Gap
Beyond technology, the collaboration places significant emphasis on workforce development. Through a joint social impact initiative, Rockwell Automation and Cisco Networking Academy will work together to equip manufacturing professionals with critical digital, networking, automation, and cybersecurity skills required for software-defined industrial environments. The program will leverage Cisco Networking Academy alongside Rockwell Automation’s Learning+ platform to develop a future-ready workforce capable of supporting increasingly digital and connected manufacturing operations.
By investing in skills development, the companies aim to help close India’s manufacturing digital skills gap while supporting the country’s broader objectives of workforce readiness, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.
Industry Leaders Highlight the Vision
Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director, Rockwell Automation India, said, “India’s manufacturing sector is at a defining moment. By bringing together industrial automation expertise and modern digital infrastructure, we are helping manufacturers build operations that are more resilient, intelligent, and ready for the future.”
Kartika Prihadi, Vice President, Partner and Routes to Market Sales, Cisco APJC, added, “Cisco is proud to work alongside Rockwell Automation to support India’s manufacturing transformation. By unifying secure networking, automation, and AI-ready infrastructure, we are helping manufacturers move from automation to autonomy, unlocking new levels of efficiency, innovation, and trust.”
Supporting India’s Vision for Smart Manufacturing
As India strengthens its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing manufacturing destinations, the collaboration between Rockwell Automation and Cisco offers a practical roadmap for industrial digital transformation. By combining software-defined manufacturing, AI-ready infrastructure, secure networking, and workforce development, the partnership is expected to help manufacturers improve operational resilience, enhance productivity, and accelerate innovation.
As reported by analyticsinsight.net, the initiative demonstrates how technology partnerships, digital infrastructure, and skill development can work together to build a smarter, more sustainable, and globally competitive manufacturing ecosystem in India.
