With an aim to strengthen industry-academia collaboration in applied research and training in artificial intelligence, the National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT-C) in collaboration with global fintech firm JMR Infotech has launched the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Lab, NEOHIVE, at its Center of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (CoE-AI).
The lab was designed to move AI research out of classrooms and journals and into real-world applications. His main areas of interest include AI agent systems, intelligent automation and immersive technologies such as augmented, virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR/XR), the press release said.
Jayafar Moidu, managing director of JMR Group and an alumnus of NITC, said the project would follow a phased investment model. “We have invested ₹1.25 crore in the first phase and it will be increased up to ₹7.5 crore in the next phase,” he said. Describing the lab’s vision, Mr Moid said NEOHIVE was conceived as a space where advanced AI research could be tested, refined and deployed in live industrial environments.
As part of the partnership, JMR Infotech has established the JMR PhD Fellowship to support doctoral research in the field of applied artificial intelligence. The collaboration also provides scholarships for student internships and travel grants for faculty members to attend international academic conferences to increase research exposure and global collaboration.
Inaugurating the facility, NITC Director Prasad Krishna said the lab will give students and researchers direct exposure to real-world deployment of AI. “Collaborations like this are critical to keeping academic programs in line with the fast-changing needs of industry,” he said, adding that the initiative will help prepare students for future-ready roles in the global technology sector.
A. Seshadri Sekhar, Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad; The inaugural function was attended by SD Madhu Kumar, Chairman, CoE-AI, and Ravi Varma, Dean, International Alumni and Corporate Relations.
Published – 1 Jan 2026 20:28 IST
