Mangaluru: The Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, in collaboration with Mphasis Foundation, will officially inaugurate the Mphasis AI and Robotics Lab on its campus on Friday. The lab will be inaugurated by MC Sudhakar, Minister for Higher Education, Government of Karnataka.
Principal SS Injaganeri informed reporters on Thursday that the event will also be attended by S Vidyashankar, Vice-Chancellor of Visvesvaraya Technological University, and Deepa Nagraj, Senior Vice-President and Global Head of ESG, Sparkle Innovation Ecosystem and Communications at Mphasis. Other dignitaries expected to be present include Sumit Chauhan, Head of CSR at Mphasis Foundation; Chetan Dixit, Vice-President of Karnataka Digital Economy Mission; and Bhaskar, Regional Director of NASSCOM.
Lab Under CSR Initiative
According to Injaganeri, the Mphasis AI and Robotics Lab has been established under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of Mphasis Foundation in partnership with Sahyadri Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Foundation, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, and NASSCOM. The initiative aims to create a co-creation and innovation ecosystem focused on emerging technologies such as agentic AI, robotics, edge AI, industrial IoT, cloud computing, and automation.
The facility is a key component of the institution’s Industry-Integrated Workspaces initiative, which seeks to bridge academia, industry, and innovation. Mphasis Foundation has committed Rs 2 crore over four years for the development of advanced facilities to support industry-ready talent, innovation, startups, and regional technology ecosystems.
Experiential Learning for Students
The lab is expected to provide students with experiential learning through industry collaborations, live projects, innovation challenges, hackathons, and gig-based assignments. Students will gain practical exposure in artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, embedded electronics, spatial computing, and software development through engagement with industries and startups.
This initiative aligns with the Government of Karnataka’s Beyond Bengaluru programme, aimed at strengthening regional innovation and positioning Mangaluru as an emerging technology and entrepreneurship hub.
Future Goals and Opportunities
Over the next five years, the programme aims to build a digital talent pool by upskilling students in AI/ML, blockchain, AR/VR, gaming, robotics, and other advanced technologies. It will also develop solutions for regional and global challenges. Additionally, the initiative will support pre-incubation, startup mentoring, venture-building opportunities, and MSME-focused problem solving to help students and innovators work on real-world industrial and societal challenges.
A panel discussion on ‘AI Preparedness: Bridging Policy, Talent, and Industry’ will be held as part of the inauguration programme, featuring experts from academia, industry, and innovation ecosystems.
