Representatives from industry, academia, government, and NIT-K’s alumni network at the two-day founding conclave of the proposed C-VISTA in Mangaluru on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
National Institute of Technology-Karnataka (NIT-K), Surathkal, Director B. Ravi said the proposed Centre of Excellence for VLSI Innovation for Systems, Technology, and Applications (C-VISTA) at the institute can provide a platform for students, faculty, and industry partners to identify campus-level problems and develop semiconductor and Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI)-based solutions with wider societal applications.He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day founding conclave of the proposed C-VISTA on Monday on the institute premises. C-VISTA aims to position NIT-K as a hub for semiconductor innovation by connecting education, research, industry collaboration, and entrepreneurship. It will provide a platform for students, faculty, alumni, and industry practitioners to work jointly on real-world challenges, supporting the semiconductor and deep-tech ecosystem in coastal Karnataka.The conclave brought together industry, academia, government, and NIT-K’s alumni network to advance semiconductor innovation, talent development, and industry collaboration.Mr. Ravi led the conclave with key contributions from alumni and industry leaders, including Navin Bishnoi (a 1998 batch alumnus), vice-president and India country manager at Marvell Technology and Chairperson of IESA; Rohit Bhat, founder of the Silicon Beach Programme; and Padmanand Warrier (a 1981 batch alumnus), founder of Warrier H.E.A.R.T. Hub for Sustainable AI. Subhash C. Yaragal, Deputy Director; Udaya Bhat, Dean (Research and Innovation); and Prasanna Belur, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), also participated.Organisations participating in the conclave included KarMic Design Pvt. Ltd., EKA Mobility, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, Sierra Pinnacle, Anmaya Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Silicon Beach Programme, Leanwatts India Pvt. Ltd., and TiE Mangaluru, along with NITK faculty, research scholars, and undergraduate students.Mr. Bishnoi delivered a masterclass on the semiconductor value chain, outlining opportunities for India in design, systems innovation, talent development, and ecosystem building. Sessions also featured industry practitioners Samarth Modi, Girish Desai, Gopal Krishna Nayak, and Ashish Guttedar. Published - August 04, 2026 06:19 pm IST
