We are expanding our geographic reach. This year, C3D Labs is focusing on the CAD/CAM/CAE/BIM market in India.
In early September, the C3D Labs team embarked on a week-long business trip to India. Our experts met with existing local partners and participated in domestic and international trade shows. A highlight of the trip was hosting an international event for developers.
On September 8, we hosted C3Day India 2026, our first international conference, in Pune. The event brought together CAD developers and engineering software experts.
Fig. 1. Denis Statsenko, Head of Product Marketing at C3D Labs, opens the C3Day India 2026 conference
Why Pune? Because this is the home to many domestic and international software development companies. Pune is a major hub for India’s IT, automotive, and manufacturing industries. The city also boasts some of the country’s most prestigious universities.
Fig. 2. Streets of Pune, India
The event agenda was designed to give us an opportunity to engage directly with the Indian audience. Oksana Lobodanova, Head of Marketing, presented an overview of the company and its current business lines. Denis Statsenko, Head of Product Marketing, spoke about our flagship C3D Toolkit solution and the CAD/CAM/CAE/BIM components. Daniil Kalmykov, Sales Support Engineer, presented our key customers.
Fig. 3. Daniil Kalmykov, Sales Support Engineer at C3D Labs, talks about C3D Toolkit
A highlight of the conference was a workshop on developing a CAD application with the C3D Toolkit, led by Maxim Kulagin, Head of the Technical Support and Testing Department.
Fig. 4. Maxim Kulagin, Head of Technical Support and Testing at C3D Labs, leads a workshop on using the C3D Toolkit components
ASCON, a leading Russian CAD vendor, supported the conference. Alexander Rybinsky, Head of the International Sales Department, spoke about the advantages of the C3D geometric kernel used in ASCON’s KOMPAS-3D CAD system.
Fig. 5. Presentation by Alexander Rybinsky, Head of the International Sales Department at ASCON
Aniruddha Raste, founder of Engenext, a software company, shared his experience using the C3D geometric kernel and C3D Toolkit components, as well as his plans for further collaboration with the C3D Labs team.
Fig. 6. Presentation by Aniruddha Raste, founder of Engenext
The conference schedule was unconventional: the event for the Indian audience took place after the regular workday, with presentations starting at 18:00. Despite some challenges related to the local climate and cultural context, we managed to bring the audience together. After the event, networking continued over dinner.
Fig. 7. C3D Labs experts talking to the guests at the C3Day India 2026 conference
The in-person C3Day India 2026 conference was a landmark event for both C3D Labs and the Indian CAD developer community. It was more than just a conference — it brought together the international community of geometric kernel enthusiasts. This kind of networking sparks new projects, ideas, and cross-cultural connections. It brings some energy to our science-driven, buttoned-up business.
Fig. 8. The C3D Labs team at the C3Day India 2026 conference, Pune
The C3D Labs team did more than organize a single conference. During the trip to India, they attended the Pune Machine Tool Expo in Pune and INNOPROM.India in New Delhi.
Fig. 9. The C3D Labs team at the Pune Machine Tool Expo 2026 in Pune, India
The team members share their impressions of a busy week in India, meeting partners face to face and taking part in industry events.
Maxim Kulagin, Head of Technical Support and Testing, C3D Labs:
“India has a rich history stretching back thousands of years. Once the cradle of great civilizations, it is now one of the world’s major technology hubs. Many engineering software companies have R&D centers here, and Indian programmers have earned a global reputation. That made India an obvious place for us to introduce the local CAD community to our technologies. C3Day India 2026 was held in Pune, one of India’s major IT hubs. The event had the feel of an engineering developers’ meetup: participants not only learned about our technologies but also exchanged ideas and discussed the challenges they face in their work. C3D generated a great deal of enthusiasm, and participants came up to us after the presentations to discuss specific technical challenges. Their interest in our technologies was genuine, and the fact that the conference coincided with the BRICS summit gave the event an added sense of significance. The conference was only part of our program. Our team also visited two trade shows. At Pune Machine Tool Expo 2026, most exhibitors were equipment suppliers. At INNOPROM.India, we met with companies we had previously encountered at trade shows in Russia. And, of course, India itself made a lasting impression. The traffic is a spectacle in its own right: trucks, taxis, auto-rickshaws, and cycle rickshaws all weaving through the streets in a seemingly endless stream, accompanied by a constant chorus of horns and flashing headlights. Temples, mosques, churches, monuments, and ancient ruins stand side by side, sometimes built with stones taken from even older structures whose origins remain unknown. There are enormous crowds everywhere, and the legacy of the caste system is still visible in everyday life. At the same time, the country has tremendous energy and enormous potential for further development.”
Daniil Kalmykov, Sales Support Engineer, C3D Labs:
“India’s tech sector is widely known for its strong service business, particularly in software development and IT. But what interested us most was meeting companies that want to go beyond providing services and develop competitive software products of their own. These are exactly the kinds of companies we’d like to work with. The business side of the trip was packed. We met with a wide range of companies, each with its own character and atmosphere. One meeting took us to a cozy office surrounded by greenery, while another was held just across the street from the offices of some of the world’s best-known CAD companies. India is a country of striking contrasts. Modern skyscrapers stand alongside makeshift street markets, while global brands exist side by side with a culture that is unmistakably local. But what stayed with us most was the people. Everyone we met was different, but many shared the same qualities: they were open, friendly, and easy to talk to. There was no sense of putting on an act or trying to be someone they were not. I’m sure we’ll be back in India — and not just once. :-) And I’m sure every trip will be truly special. India is a multi-faceted experience. Despite the noticeable influence of globalization, as soon as you step outside, you are immediately immersed in the absolutely unique Indian culture. The cuisine deserves a special mention. It certainly won’t be to everyone’s taste, but those who love bold flavors and spices will truly appreciate it. Perhaps the main takeaway from the trip is simple: “You have to accept India as it is, and then it will surely accept you in return.”
Oksana Lobodanova, Head of Marketing, C3D Labs:
“An in-person event in another country is always a challenging and exciting project. A new audience, different cultural traditions, and unfamiliar ways of doing things make it even more exciting. Our preparations for C3Day India 2026 gave us much better insight into the local market and how to work in it. Now we’re ready to take on this new region. I’d like to highlight the incredible response from the guests. They showed great interest in our advanced technology and eagerly engaged with the C3D Labs team. Many of them stayed with us until the very last moment, and we could hardly tear ourselves away from the conversations. We had equally positive interactions with suppliers, customers, and partners. Despite the language differences, we found it easy to communicate with our suppliers, customers, and partners and quickly found common ground. Our countries share a similar approach to business, which creates a good basis for new projects. I believe the Indian PLM market has responded very positively to the C3D geometric kernel. Now we need to assess the results of the trip and plan our activities for the next year.”
Denis Statsenko, Head of Product Marketing, C3D Labs:
“Our expectations were confirmed: India, and Pune in particular, is one of the world’s major hubs for engineering software development. The number of questions we received at the event and the meetings we had during the trip point to strong growth and a high level of development in the industry. There is a straightforward explanation for this. Pune is one of India’s major automotive hubs and has a large number of educational institutions. New software products are being developed to meet the needs of the industry, drawing on the city’s strong pool of engineering talent. The offices of all the world’s leading CAD developers are there. The city’s CAD developers have built a close-knit community, much like the one that gathers at our events in Russia. Everyone at C3Day India had ideas about how existing products could be improved and what new products could be developed to meet customer needs. Most importantly, the participants demonstrated a strong understanding of our tools and a high level of expertise in engineering software development. Unlike in China, communication presents no significant challenges in India. English is one of India’s official languages and is widely used for communication between people from different linguistic backgrounds. This makes it much easier to build relationships and communicate effectively. Indian developers are keen to create their own products for the local market. We hope this interest will translate into sales in the future.”