Minister Dr. M. C. Sudhakar Inaugurates Mphasis AI & Robotics Lab at Sahyadri College

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Mangaluru : Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, Mangaluru, in association with Mphasis Foundation, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), and NASSCOM Foundation, inaugurated the state-of-the-art Mphasis AI & Robotics Lab at the Sahyadri campus on 22nd May 2026. The event featured the formal plaque unveiling ceremony of the Mphasis AI & Robotics Lab by Shri. Dr. M. C. Sudhakar, Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education, Government of Karnataka, as the Chief Guest alongside Mr. Sudham Das, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC) and Former officer of the Enforcement Directorate (ED); Ms. Deepa Nagaraj, Senior Vice President & Head – ESG, Sparkle Innovation Ecosystem and Communications, Mphasis Foundation; Mr. Raman Madhok, Managing Director of Kahani Designworks Private Limited, and Director at Open Spaces Consulting; Mr. Krishna Hegde, Director – Group General Manager-Human Resource at Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd; Mr. Sumith Chauhan, Head-CSR, Mphasis; Mr. Chetan Dixit, Vice President, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM); and Mr. Manjunath Bhandary, Chairman, and Dr. S S Injaganeri, Principal, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management.

At the formal inauguration event, welcoming the gathering, Mr Johnson Tellis, CEO, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, outlined the vision behind the initiative and emphasised the institution’s commitment to building a resilient mindset among students. He remarked that the inauguration of the Mphasis AI & Robotics Lab stands as a testimony to Sahyadri’s continuous efforts towards creating future-ready graduates equipped for the evolving industry landscape. He further highlighted that student should not only excel academically but also develop hands-on technical expertise, an innovation mindset, internship exposure, and entrepreneurial capabilities to emerge as job creators rather than merely job seekers. Mr. Johnson Tellis also stated that the initiative represents a strong synergy between industry, academia, faculty, and the Government in building an innovation-driven ecosystem for student growth and skill development. Speaking about the leadership vision of the institution, he acknowledged the constant impetus and encouragement provided by Chairman Mr. Manjunath Bhandary and reiterated that “Sahyadri is for all in the state.”

Addressing the gathering, Shri. Dr. M. C. Sudhakar described the event as a significant occasion and expressed happiness in returning to Sahyadri after his previous visit in December 2023. He remarked that institutions like Sahyadri have played an important role in inspiring transformative initiatives in higher education across Karnataka. Appreciating the institution, the Minister stated that the true strength of Sahyadri lies not merely in its infrastructure but in its commitment towards skilling and preparing students for the demands of the evolving industry ecosystem. He emphasized that in the present era, education must go beyond theoretical learning and strongly focus on practical exposure and skill development.

Praising the leadership of Chairman Mr. Manjunath Bhandary, Dr. Sudhakar described him as a visionary leader whose initiatives serve as a guiding model for government colleges across Karnataka. He remarked that individuals like Mr. Bhandary compete not merely at the regional level but with global standards, and appreciated the institution’s commitment towards education and student development rather than commercial interests. Referring to the Chairman as an inspiration, he lauded the institution for creating a progressive and student-centric ecosystem.

The Minister also appreciated the efforts of Mphasis Foundation and encouraged organizations to extend similar collaborations and skilling initiatives to government colleges as well. Stressing the importance of quality enhancement in engineering education, he spoke about the Government’s mandate on NBA accreditation for institutions offering engineering programmes. Highlighting the growing relevance of Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Sudhakar urged institutions to integrate AI across all domains for the benefit of students and appreciated Sahyadri for being ahead of the curve in innovation and educational transformation. He further stated that students are in the hands of a committed and visionary team at Sahyadri.

Concluding his address, the Minister encouraged students to make the best use of emerging opportunities, stating that “Society is an open field – bring out the best in you.”

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Deepa Nagaraj, Senior Vice President & Head – ESG, Sparkle Innovation Ecosystem and Communications, Mphasis Foundation, highlighted that the core objective behind establishing such initiatives is to bridge the gap between academia and industry. She stated that the Mphasis AI & Robotics Lab would serve as a strong platform connecting educational institutions with industry requirements by enabling students to gain practical exposure, innovation opportunities, and industry-relevant skills. Ms. Deepa Nagaraj further announced that the initiative would support students through seed funding opportunities to help them leverage the lab facilities for innovation, experimentation, and project development. She remarked that the long-term outcomes envisioned through the initiative include the development of patents, research publications, and student-led start-ups, which would serve as key benchmarks for the success of the programme.

Highlighting changing industry expectations, she observed that organizations today do not merely seek the best coders, but individuals who can apply Artificial Intelligence effectively to solve real-world problems. Referring to industry hiring practices, she mentioned that hackathons and innovation-driven problem-solving platforms are increasingly becoming important indicators of talent and employability. Emphasizing the role of faculty members in innovation ecosystems, Ms. Deepa Nagaraj stated that educators should be provided with greater opportunities and time for research, mentoring student projects, and guiding innovation initiatives.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Sudham Das, shared that he had heard highly positive feedback about Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management from his colleagues and officers whose children had studied at the institution. Expressing admiration for the campus and its ecosystem, he stated that he was deeply impressed by the professionalism, infrastructure, organization, and overall academic environment at Sahyadri. Comparing the institution to premier institutions of national importance, he remarked that Sahyadri is “nothing less than an IIT” in terms of its professionalism, logistics, and infrastructure. Mr. Sudham Das also complimented the visionary leadership of the institution and observed that Sahyadri is not only a matter of pride for Mangaluru but for the entire state of Karnataka.

Addressing the gathering as the Guest of Honour, Mr. Chetan Dixit, Vice President, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), reiterated KDEM’s commitment towards supporting higher educational institutions in building innovation-driven and industry-oriented ecosystems. Appreciating the efforts of Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, he remarked that the institution serves as a model for progressive higher education and expressed the need to create “more Sahyadris” across the state to accelerate educational and technological advancement.

Next, addressing the students and faculty members, Mr. Raman Madhok emphasized that the global landscape has undergone a significant transformation and remarked that today’s world offers immense opportunities for those willing to take initiative and continuously learn. Encouraging faculty members to constantly upgrade themselves, he stressed the importance of acquiring new skills and staying relevant in a dynamic professional environment. He urged educators and students alike to continuously “recharge their batteries” through lifelong learning and self-development.

Delivering the Presidential Remarks, Mr. Manjunath Bhandary, reflected upon the institution’s journey towards strengthening skilling and industry integration. He remarked that the significant gap between academics and industry expectations ultimately triggered the institution’s mission to focus extensively on skilling initiatives and industry readiness. Mr. Bhandary stated that the journey towards transforming education through skill-based learning was not an easy one, but Sahyadri remained committed to bridging the gap between theoretical learning and practical industry requirements. Expressing his happiness over the collaboration, he shared that Mphasis Foundation came forward to establish the AI & Robotics Lab at Sahyadri after recognizing the institution’s consistent efforts, commitment towards innovation, and world-class infrastructure. On behalf of the entire Sahyadri family, the Chairman assured that the institution would provide the best possible ecosystem and opportunities for students to effectively utilize the Mphasis AI & Robotics Lab for innovation, research, and skill development. He further emphasized the institution’s vision of setting up industries directly on the campus and ensuring that companies mandatorily provide paid internship opportunities to students, thereby creating a culture of accountability, responsibility, and experiential learning. In his concluding remarks, Mr. Bhandary stressed that placements alone should not be considered the ultimate goal of education. Instead, he encouraged students to become job creators capable of generating opportunities for their peers and juniors. Summing up his philosophy on education and employability, he remarked, “Academics is the passport, but skills are the visa to success.”

Later, the dignitaries and guests were felicitated by Mr. Manjunath Bhandary. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Prof. Monisha Shetty of the MBA Department, who expressed gratitude to the dignitaries, industry leaders, organizers, faculty members, students, press and all stakeholders for making the event a grand success.