Higher Education Minister M. C. Sudhakar will inaugurate the Mphasis AI and Robotics Laboratory at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management, Mangaluru on Friday.

S. Vidyashankar, Vice-Chancellor of Visvesvaraya Technological University, Sumit Chauhan, Head CSR, Mphasis Foundation will also be present during the inauguration at 10 a.m.

The laboratory 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, a release from the college stated.

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 State government’s Beyond Bengaluru initiative, the laboratory 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, the college said.

The college currently supports 22 active startups, the release said.