MUMBAI: The Rotary Club of Bombay (RCB) recently inaugurated the industry 4.0 ready RCB–ITI innovation lab at ITI Mumbai.This is a significant milestone in strengthening future-ready vocational education and aligning skill training with the evolving demands of Industry 4.0. The initiative reflects a strong collaboration between the government of Maharashtra and civil society to create sustainable and inclusive career pathways for youth.Inaugurating the lab, Manisha Varma, IAS, said that the RCB–ITI Innovation Lab is a state-of-the-art facility aimed at making youth future-ready and significantly enhancing their employability. She said that the government of Maharashtra is committed to upgrading skill education to meet industry needs and improve employment outcomes for young people. She added that the collaboration with the Rotary Club of Bombay is intended to encourage more NGOs to come forward with innovative and impactful ideas in the skilling ecosystem.She further noted that this is the first ITI in Mumbai with which the Rotary Club of Bombay has collaborated, and informed that an MoU was signed between the Government of Maharashtra and RCB in August 2025. The current lab, she said, will serve as a model incubation and innovation centre, which can be replicated in other ITIs across the state. Emphasising inclusivity, she stated that the initiative is being conducted entirely free of cost, with the majority of beneficiaries being underprivileged students, ensuring equitable access to advanced skill education.Bimal Mehta, President, Rotary Club of Bombay, said: “The RCB–ITI Innovation Lab reflects our commitment to future-proofing vocational education. By integrating Industry 4.0 technologies into hands-on learning, we aim to equip students with skills that are relevant, resilient, and industry-ready.” Built around a ‘learn–build–apply’ pedagogy, the lab emphasises project-based learning, faculty training, and industry mentorship, and is envisioned as a scalable and replicable model.Commissioned at ITI Mumbai, an institute under the Directorate of Vocational Education & Training (DVET), Government of Maharashtra, and operating under the Director General of Training (DGT), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, the RCB–ITI Innovation Lab strengthens DVET’s mission of building a skilled workforce across Maharashtra. Located at Elphinstone Technical High School and Junior College, Dhobi Talao, ITI Mumbai 01 trains nearly 700 students annually, making it one of South Mumbai’s key vocational institutions.
