The AEC/O world is changing at a rapid pace – and wherever academia and practice meet, the ground is laid for genuine innovation. At the AIAS Forum 2026 in Denver, the “Catalyst” theme highlights how students and industry come together to rethink how we learn, design, and build. From the perspective of Parth Tikiwala, Head of Nemetschek Global Academic Program and Head of Public Sector Strategy, Build and Construct at Nemetschek, a new generation is emerging for whom digital collaboration, integrated thinking, and responsible design naturally go hand in hand – supported by brands like Bluebeam, Graphisoft, and Vectorworks that equip students worldwide with practice-ready technology.