This initiative complemented the school’s strong community-driven efforts, contributing to its inspiring journey from near closure to global recognition, culminating in winning the World’s Best School Prize 2025.

RoboDK, a world-renowned robotics simulation software, in partnership with SimuSoft Technologies, Pune played a key role in implementing a Robotics and Industry 4.0 Lab at the Government Zilla Parishad (ZP) School, Jalindarnagar — the first of its kind in a rural primary school in India. The lab was inaugurated by Hon. Dadaji Bhuse, Minister of School Education, Government of Maharashtra. The lab was developed under the CSR funding of Bharat Forge Ltd., integrating RoboDK as a core simulation platform to help students explore robotics and automation concepts. This initiative complemented the school's strong community-driven efforts, contributing to its inspiring journey from near closure to global recognition, culminating in winning the World's Best School Prize 2025.

Robotic software company RoboDK and India's SimuSoft Technologies have joined forces to equip Zilla Parishad (ZP) School Jalindarnagar with a groundbreaking technology education lab. What began as an experiment to make robotics accessible to children in rural Maharashtra has transformed into an inspiring national model for digital education.

"This is significant to us because it takes RoboDK into a completely new territory," says Albert Nubiola, CEO of RoboDK. "Previously, our software was primarily used in industrial settings or universities. This initiative proves that RoboDK can be a powerful educational tool for children."

From brink of closure to groundbreaking model of education
This project is a powerful demonstration of how technology, vision, and community can come together to transform education. In 2021, ZP School Jalindarnagar reportedly had just three students and faced closure. Today, enrollment has surged past 120, with learners aged 6-18 studying robotics and digital manufacturing.

"This is the first experiment of its kind in India," said Sunil Chore, Managing Director of SimuSoft Technologies. "Through RoboDK these young students are learning concepts of robotics — programming, experimentation, and automation — at a stage when most children are just being introduced to computers."

The initiative provides primary-age students with access to technologies rarely available even to diploma-level engineering students. The lab features workstations for additive and subtractive manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) kits, and CAD tools, offering rural students hands-on exposure to Industry 4.0.

"At this early age, they are already learning how CNC machines function through simulators, how to program a Raspberry Pi, and how to connect it with RoboDK and an actual Dobot robotic arm," Chore added. "When children understand how artificial intelligence integrates with robotics at this foundational stage, they are not just learning — they are laying the groundwork for a new generation of skilled innovators."

Why simulation-first matters for schools
For many schools, especially in rural areas, the high cost and complexity of robotics hardware have long limited students' access to hands-on technology learning.

With RoboDK's simulation platform, students can now plan, test, and run robot programs virtually — without needing expensive hardware. This approach makes robotics education more accessible, safe, and engaging, while helping young learners develop problem-solving, teamwork, and technical confidence from an early age.

"RoboDK turns robotics learning into an exciting, hands-on experience," says Sunil Chore. "Students can program and control virtual robots, see instant results, and understand how their ideas work in real life. When they finally use an actual robot, they're thrilled to watch their classroom simulations come alive."

RoboDK's mission to democratize robotics
This collaboration with SimuSoft Technologies embodies one of RoboDK's core missions: to democratize robotics and make automation simple and accessible for everyone.

"Accessibility has always been at the heart of what we do," says Nubiola. "With our software, schools don't need to invest in expensive or potentially dangerous physical robots. Simulation lets students experiment with multi-million-dollar industrial equipment in a completely safe, virtual environment."

Winner of a World's Best School Award 2025
The impact of the project reaches far beyond this one school. Backed by CSR funding from Bharat Forge and implemented by SimuSoft, the center delivers a complete learning pathway for valuable technological skills that could become a blueprint across the country.

In 2025, ZP School Jalindarnagar received the World's Best School Prize - Community Choice Award, earning global recognition among 50 shortlisted institutions from around the world. The award represents not only the school's success but the culmination of a shared mission — to prove that world-class technology education can begin in even the most remote corners of the world.

Future plans
This Jalindarnagar project demonstrates a scalable and affordable model of robotic education that can be replicated anywhere in the world. By introducing these concepts early, this educational approach fosters a new generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and critical thinkers who will be ready for the automated world of the future.

"What's most exciting is the untapped human potential we can help unlock," says Silvia Callis, Marketing Manager at RoboDK. "Seeing RoboDK being used by children like this is incredibly inspiring. It also helps break the stereotype that advanced technology is only for privileged schools."

With more projects like this, RoboDK and SimuSoft Technologies hope to shift robotics education from a specialized, higher-education subject to a foundational skill taught at the school level.

About RoboDK
Founded by Albert Nubiola in January 2015, RoboDK is a spin-off company from the prestigious CoRo laboratory at ÉTS University in Montreal, Canada. RoboDK software brings powerful robotics simulation and programming capabilities to companies large and small—and to coders and non-coders alike. Today, it supports 1,200+ robots from 50+ manufacturers, including ABB, FANUC, KUKA, Yaskawa, Stäubli, and Universal Robots.

About SimuSoft Technologies
SimuSoft Technologies, headquartered in Pune, India, is a leading provider of AI and simulation-driven technology solutions that empower the education, industry, and government sectors. The company also specializes in establishing Centers of Excellence and Skill School Labs in Robotics, Automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Drone Technology, and Industry 4.0.