Aimed at strengthening industry-academia collaboration in applied AI research and training, the National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT-C), in partnership with global fintech firm JMR Infotech, has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Lab, NEOHIVE, at its Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (CoE-AI).The lab has been designed to move AI research beyond classrooms and journals into real-world applications. Its core focus areas include agentic AI systems, intelligent automation, and immersive technologies such as augmented, virtual and extended reality (AR/VR/XR), a press release said.Jayafar Moidu, chief executive officer 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 this will be scaled up to ₹7.5 crore in the next phase,” he said. Describing the vision behind the lab, Mr. Moidu said NEOHIVE was conceived as a space where advanced AI research could be tested, refined, and deployed in live industry environments.As part of the partnership, JMR Infotech has instituted a JMR PhD Fellowship to support doctoral research in Applied AI. The collaboration also provides stipends for student internships and travel fellowships for faculty members to participate in international academic conferences, with the aim of widening research exposure and global collaboration.Inaugurating the facility, NITC Director Prasad Krishna said the lab would give students and researchers direct exposure to real-world AI deployments. “Collaborations like this are critical to keeping academic programmes aligned with fast-changing industry needs,” he said, adding that the initiative would help prepare students for future-ready roles in the global technology sector.A. Seshadri Sekhar, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology, Palakkad; S.D. Madhu Kumar, chairperson of CoE-AI, and Ravi Varma, Dean of International Alumni and Corporate Relations,took part in the inaugural function.Published - January 01, 2026 08:28 pm IST