Media Release
Mangaluru, May 21: Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, in association with Mphasis Foundation, will inaugurate the Mphasis AI & Robotics Lab at the college campus on Friday, May 22, 2026.
The inauguration programme will be held at 10:00 AM and will be inaugurated by chief guest Dr M C Sudhakar, hon’ble minister for Higher Education, Government of Karnataka.
The programme will also be graced by Dr S Vidyashankar, vice-chancellor of Visvesvaraya Technological University, Deepa Nagraj, senior vice president & global head - ESG, Sparkle Innovation Ecosystem, and Communications, Mphasis along with distinguished dignitaries including Sumit Chauhan, head CSR, Mphasis Foundation; Chetan Dixit, vice president, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission; and Bhaskar, regional director, NASSCOM.
The Mphasis AI & Robotics Lab has been established as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Mphasis Foundation in collaboration with Sahyadri Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Foundation (SHINE Foundation), KDEM, and NASSCOM. The initiative aims to create a vibrant co-creation and innovation ecosystem that fosters exponential value creation using emerging technologies such as Agentic AI, Robotics, Edge AI, Industrial IoT (IIoT), Cloud Computing, and Automation.
The newly established facility forms a major part of Sahyadri’s broader Industry-Integrated Workspaces Initiative, which focuses on bridging academia, industry, and innovation. Mphasis Foundation has committed ?2 crore over four years towards developing advanced facilities that strengthen industry-ready talent, innovation, startups, and regional technology ecosystems.
The initiative is designed to provide students with experiential learning opportunities through industry collaborations, live projects, innovation challenges, hackathons, and gig-based assignments. Students will gain hands-on exposure in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics & Automation, Embedded Electronics, Spatial Computing, and Software Development while working closely with industries and startups.
Aligned with the Government of Karnataka’s Beyond Bengaluru initiative, the lab aims to strengthen regional innovation and position Mangaluru as an emerging technology and entrepreneurship hub. Over the next five years, the initiative envisions building a strong digital talent pool by upskilling students in AI/ML, Blockchain, AR/VR, Gaming, Robotics, and other exponential technologies while developing solutions for regional and global challenges.
The initiative will also support pre-incubation activities, startup mentoring, venture-building opportunities, and MSME-focused problem solving, enabling students and innovators to collaborate on real-world industrial and societal challenges.
As part of the programme, a panel discussion on the topic “AI Preparedness: Bridging Policy, Talent, and Industry” will be conducted with participation from experts representing academia, industry, and innovation ecosystems.
Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management has been actively building a strong innovation and startup ecosystem through initiatives such as the Social Innovation Program (SIP), SSTH student innovation programmes, NAIN, ACIC, and KAN acceleration initiatives. The institution currently supports 22 active startups and has produced several Elevate winners and Shark Tank alumni.
The management, faculty, staff members, students, and organisers of Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management have invited industry leaders, media representatives, academicians, and the public to witness the inauguration programme.