NIE Mysuru Launches ALPHA Lab: Pioneering Hands-On, AI-Driven Learning In Collaboration with MBF, Lenovo, Motorola 

Mysuru, May 21, 2025: The National Institute of Engineering (NIE), Mysuru, celebrated the inauguration of its state-of-the-art ALPHA Innovation and Tinkerers’ Laboratory on May 21 at the NIE North Campus Koorgalli. This initiative, supported by Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF), Lenovo, and Motorola, brings together hardware prototyping and advanced AI/ML computing under one roof, accessible 24×7 to students and faculty.

ALPHA (Advanced Laboratory for Programming, Hardware, and Analytics) marks a significant leap in experiential engineering education. It is Karnataka’s first twin-lab model, integrating High-Performance Computing Systems and Electromechanical Prototyping Tools, bridging theory and practice for over 4,500 engineering students.

The Innovation Lab was inaugurated by Prof Timothy A Gonsalves, Board member of Maker Bhavan Foundation, Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of IIT Mandi, and the Tinkerers’ Lab by Shailendra Katyal, Vice President & Managing Director, Lenovo India.

Dr Rohini Nagapadma, Principal of NIE, remarked, “This laboratory is more than just equipment — it’s an ecosystem where students will learn to solve real-world problems using both tactile making and AI infrastructure.” 

Damayanti Bhattacharya, CEO of Maker Bhavan Foundation, said, “With the ALPHA Lab, we’re not just building a space — we’re building a mindset. Our goal is to ignite a culture of invention, where students learn by doing, think fearlessly, and solve real-world problems with confidence.”

Katyal added, “At Lenovo, we’re proud to collaborate with NIE Mysuru and the Maker Bhavan Foundation to empower the next generation of innovators. By bringing advanced AI/ML capabilities into a hands-on learning environment, ALPHA Lab will enable students and faculty across disciplines to engage in real-world problem-solving, cutting-edge research, and meaningful innovation.”

Prof V Balaji, Project Head of ALPHA, reflected, “This is a landmark achievement for NIE — the first CSR and Foundation-funded initiative of its kind in the institute’s history. Our students now have a world-class facility to explore, innovate, and collaborate — day or night. This is just the beginning of a new era of making, learning, and leading.”