Autodesk University 2021 Inspires Innovators to Achieve the New Possible

Autodesk University 2021 Inspires Innovators to Achieve the New Possible

Global conference takes the virtual stage for second consecutive year, empowering industry leaders to design and make a better world for all

This week, Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) will virtually welcome innovators from around the world to the company's annual design and make conference, Autodesk University (AU) 2021. The global learning experience is specifically designed for experts within the fields of architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, and media and entertainment – all leveraging Autodesk technologies to explore the new possible and advance their respective industries. The conference kicks off October 7–8, with additional regional learning and networking sessions scheduled October 8–14.

As the world continues to grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Autodesk will host its global event on a digital platform for a second consecutive year, helping to ensure the continued health, safety and wellbeing of Autodesk's customers and extended community. AU 2021 programming has been reformatted for the virtual stage and will be available online for attendees at no cost.

Autodesk President and CEO Andrew Anagnost will kick off each morning of AU 2021 with a series of General Session keynotes. This daily content will explore Autodesk's evolving role in empowering innovators across industries to solve problems, with a particular focus on the company's vision and progress towards delivering platform-based solutions for its customers, built upon Autodesk's existing Forge technology. The result will be a resilient and flexible set of cloud-based solutions that combine technologies, connect processes, automate workflows and unlock valuable insights for customers.

"Autodesk is constantly reshaping the ways we deliver value to our customers–to ensure we're providing the tools needed to both meet the intensifying industry demands of today and propel those industries towards a more sustainable world that benefits everyone," said Andrew Anagnost, president and CEO of Autodesk. "In building unified and industry-focused solutions on our Forge platform, we're making an important investment in the resiliency of our customers. This year's AU is an exploration and celebration of what's possible as our software solutions become more flexible and fluent so that our customers are able to think creatively, collaborate efficiently and focus on their projects–not their products."

In addition to AU 2021's daily General Sessions, Autodesk leaders and industry innovators will take the virtual stage during the Design & Manufacturing (D&M), Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) and Media & Entertainment (M&E) keynotes. These keynotes will cover industry news and the innovative ways Autodesk is working with real-world problem solvers to transform how things are built, engineered, manufactured, created and produced in service of a better world for all. AU 2021 attendees will also have access to hundreds of expert-led classes, live Q&A sessions, virtual networking opportunities and more.

This year's AU event also marks the official debut of the company's "Autodesk it" advertising campaign, highlighting the multitude of ways that innovators can partner with Autodesk to achieve better outcomes for their projects, companies and the world at large. This campaign is a progression of Autodesk's brand evolution, following the launch of the company's new logo and visual identity in September 2021. The brand campaign will launch in select markets in 2021, with plans to expand further in 2022 and beyond.

AU 2021 content will be available for on-demand viewing after the conference. Autodesk will also continue to provide full access to the AU Solution Marketplace, where attendees can discover new, innovative technologies and helpful workflows, and meet with industry experts from the global ecosystem of Autodesk partners and developers.

For the seventh consecutive year, AU will be a carbon neutral event in 2021–its virtual, low impact format reinforces Autodesk's longstanding commitment to sustainable operations. Earlier this year, the company reached net-zero carbon emissions across its business and value chain and set two new greenhouse gas emission reduction targets that align with the latest climate science.

Additional information about AU 2021 announcements, initiatives and developments can be found on the Autodesk blog, ADSK News, beginning October 5.

Autodesk University Reaches Customers Worldwide

Autodesk University (AU) is a series of conferences and an online learning destination focused on inspiring, challenging and energizing Autodesk software users, partners, and industry leaders about the future of design, engineering and construction. Autodesk University 2021 is the company's second global digital conference experience that virtually brings together more than 75k innovators from over 175 countries to explore new ways of imagining, designing and making. AU also offers free year-round access to learning content, professional development, and inspirational industry talks from the AU conference events. More information is available at the Autodesk University website, or by following @AutodeskU #AU2021.

About Autodesk

Autodesk is changing how the world is designed and made. Our technology spans architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, media and entertainment, empowering innovators everywhere to solve challenges big and small. From greener buildings to smarter products to more mesmerizing blockbusters, Autodesk software helps our customers to design and make a better world for all. For more information visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk.

Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

Autodesk To Fuel Hardware Startups In India

Autodesk Inc., the name known to the world as the maker of architectural and engineering design software used to build Tesla cars, New York's Freedom Tower and providing the world with magnificent special effects in Hollywood blockbuster ‘Avatar’ and the firm behind the architectural and engineering design software used to build , is gearing up to launch an ‘Entrepreneur Impact Program’ focused towards Indian start-ups in the hardware domain.

Valued at over $13 billion, the California based company is currently on a hunt for companies in sectors such as clean technology, who are doing a commendable job in creating a social impact on the society. The Entrepreneur Impact Program will be helping the selected companies take their products to the people and also provide them with software worth $150,000 ( about Rs 1 crore) for a period of 3 years along with an extensive training period. Autodesk is different from others in the market as unlike other players in the market, they don't take equity from the startups and the intellectual property belongs totally to the start-ups.

According to Autodesk, it is already in final level discussions with Bengaluru-based startup FiasTech. The startup is most known for a product that when installed in fuel nozzles will automatically save all the tiny oil drops that usually fall on the ground during the refuelling process of vehicles at the gas stations. While, for the companies, it might not be a major loss, it is a huge wastage on a global level. According to FiasTech, India ends up wasting about 22 crore litres of fuel worth Rs.1,300 crore every year because of this reason.

The Bengaluru-based firm had initially developed a nozzle to prevent fuel drops falling on the ground, but decided to change their plans when they observed the reluctancy in oil companies to switch their existing dispenser with the nozzle as the dispenser came with a warranty. This is when, the nozzle was replaced with an external kit that can be easily be installed in any fuel nozzle that too without tampering with the dispenser's warranty.

This is exactly where Autodesk is hoping to jump in and come to the rescue of companies such as FiasTech which might not have resources to test their products in the market. Autodesk's software will allow these newbies to simulate their products on a computer.

Autodesk has already selected Kabadiwalla Connect and Arcatron Mobility for its entrepreneurship programme.

A Chennai-based startup, Kabadiwalla Connect will be utilising Autodesk's software to develop products such as storage units made out of recycled material. The startup is hopeful that Autodesk's technology will help them prototype and iterate their products in a quick and efficient manner.

On the other hand, Arcatron Mobility will be using Autodesk's software to improve on the design of its product by the means modelling and testing it in a virtual environment. Arcatron Mobility aims to improve the lives of elderly and mobility impaired people by developing products such as a smart care robot and shower wheelchair.

[Top Image - Scott Prokop / Shutterstock.com]

US-based Autodesk To Support India's 3D printing Startups With $100-million Fund

3D printing industry in India seems to get new wave in India as US based software corporation Autodesk has announced that it intends to invest up to $100 million (about Rs.614 crore) in 3D printing companies over the next several years. Its a World's First 3D Printing Investment Program.

The Spark Investment Fund, which will be operated within Autodesk, is the first of its kind for the 3D printing industry and will invest in entrepreneurs, startups and researchers who push the boundaries of 3D printing technology and accelerate the new industrial revolution.

To apply for the Spark Investment Fund and become a recipient, visit spark.autodesk.com/fund.

In addition to the financial investment, Spark Investment Fund recipients become part of the Spark partner program and have access to marketing and other developer services available to Spark partners.

Some of the applicants from India include Manipal-based Fracktal Works and df3d, a design factory and online marketplace for 3D print ing. Bangalore-based REALiz3D, a 3D printing service provider, said it is currently in a fund-raising mode and would take a call soon.

Companies and individuals developing groundbreaking hardware, software, materials, marketplaces and maker spaces are encouraged to apply to participate in the Spark Investment Fund’s investment portfolio. In addition to the financial investment, Spark Investment Fund recipients will become part of the Spark partner program and have access to marketing and other developer services available to Spark partners. It is through this unique combination of strategic investment and value-added partnership opportunity that Autodesk seeks to extend and empower the Spark ecosystem and spur innovation toward a more mature 3D printing experience.

"The days of taking a closed, top-down approach to innovating for additive manufacturing are behind us. Numerous industries recognize the value of tapping into entrepreneurs or startups with better ideas and approaches, and 3D printing is no exception," said Samir Hanna, vice president and general manager, Consumer Products and 3D Printing, at Autodesk. "The Spark Investment Fund will empower innovators to improve 3D printing, and to help us unlock the tremendous promise of this technology."