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NITK Surathkal Hosts Founding Conclave for Proposed VLSI Innovation Center ‘C-VISTA’

By Editor

Posted on August 4, 2026

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NITK Surathkal Hosts Founding Conclave for Proposed VLSI Innovation Center 'C-VISTA'

Surathkal : The National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal, successfully organized the founding conclave for its proposed Centre of Excellence for VLSI Innovation for Systems, Technology & Applications (C-VISTA) on August 3–4. The two-day event brought together key stakeholders from industry, academia, government, and NITK’s alumni network to foster semiconductor innovation, advance talent development, and strengthen collaborative research initiatives in Coastal Karnataka.

The conclave was spearheaded by NITK Director Prof. B. Ravi, alongside active leadership from prominent alumni and industry experts, including Navin Bishnoi (Vice President & India Country Manager at Marvell Technology, Chairperson of IESA), Rohit Bhat (Founder of Silicon Beach Program), and Padmanand Warrier (Founder of Warrier H.E.A.R.T. Hub for Sustainable AI). Key campus administrators, including Deputy Director Prof. Subhash C. Yaragal, Dean (Research & Innovation) Prof. Udaya Bhat, and Dean (Alumni & Corporate Relations) Prof. Prasanna Belur, also actively participated in the deliberations.

Designed as an innovation hub, C-VISTA aims to bridge education, research, industry partnerships, and deep-tech entrepreneurship. Prominent organizations like KarMic Design, EKA Mobility, KDEM, Sierra Pinnacle, Anmaya Technologies, Leanwatts India, Silicon Beach Program, and TiE Mangaluru joined faculty members, research scholars, and students to tackle real-world challenges. Prof. Ravi emphasized that the center will enable the NITK community to convert campus-level problem statements into practical VLSI and semiconductor-based solutions with broad societal impact.

Highlights of the conclave included a masterclass by Navin Bishnoi on the semiconductor value chain and India’s potential in design and innovation, alongside practitioner sessions by Samarth Modi, Girish Desai, Gopal Krishna Nayak, and Ashish Guttedar. A panel discussion led by Padmanand Warrier, featuring experts Zoeb Karampurwala, Rudramuni, and Pruthviraj U, outlined C-VISTA’s core focus areas: biomedical devices and healthcare; climate and disaster resilience; and drones, electric vehicles, and robotics. The event concluded with a consensus on a 90-day execution roadmap, appointment of area-specific faculty and industry leaders, and established timelines for student cohort onboarding. The organizing committee was led by Convener Dr. Rathnamala Rao and Co-Convener Dr. Maisagalla Gopal, with key faculty and alumni members.