Mumbai/Bengaluru, July 30: ValuePitch, an AI and Decision Intelligence company, has strengthened its long-standing partnership with Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology through the establishment of the Centre for Advanced AI Innovation & Research, a dedicated hub designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by enabling students to work on real-world AI challenges. The partnership builds on a relationship that began in 2018 with a sponsored research project and has since evolved into one of ValuePitch’s flagship industry-academia initiatives.
The Centre will focus on emerging technologies such as Generative AI, Agentic AI, Computer Vision, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Decision Intelligence, Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity, equipping students with practical exposure to technologies shaping the future of businesses, governments, and smart cities.
Over the years, the partnership has already created a positive impact. Around 30–40 students have completed internships at ValuePitch, while nearly 1,200 students have benefited through hackathons and innovation initiatives. This partnership has also resulted in placement opportunities for students, reflecting the industry’s growing demand for applied AI talent.
Speaking on the collaboration, Venkat Ramana, CEO, ValuePitch & NthEye, said,
“India has no shortage of engineering talent. What students often lack is the opportunity to work on real-world problems that challenge them to think beyond the classroom. Our partnership with SMVIT is built on the belief that innovation happens when academia and industry work together, giving young innovators access to live technologies, experienced mentors, and the freedom to experiment. Through the Centre for Advanced AI Innovation & Research, we want to nurture not just future AI professionals, but future builders, researchers, and entrepreneurs who can create globally relevant solutions from India.”
Sri Sekhar Raju, Chairman Academic Committee, Sri KET said at Sir MVIT, we focus on Indulging Innovation, Critical Thinking among the young minds and mentored by the faculty. Dr.Thippeswamy, Principal, Sir MVIT said,
”At SMVIT, we believe the best learning happens when academic knowledge is complemented by real-world industry experience. Our long-standing association with NthEye has created meaningful opportunities for our students through internships, innovation initiatives, and research. The Centre for Advanced AI Innovation & Research takes this partnership to the next level, allowing students and faculty to work on emerging AI technologies alongside industry experts. We are confident this initiative will help nurture future-ready engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who will contribute to India’s growing AI ecosystem.”
Unlike conventional academic collaborations that focus primarily on curriculum or guest lectures, the Centre is designed as an innovation ecosystem where students and faculty will work on live industry problems, funded research, automation solutions, and AI-led product development. Students will also gain exposure to production-grade AI systems, enabling them to develop solutions with real commercial potential.
One of the most distinctive aspects of this partnership is its focus on entrepreneurship. Students developing promising AI products will have the opportunity to pitch their innovations to ValuePitch Studios, where selected ideas will receive go-to-market support, product validation, mentorship, and the chance to join as co-founders while earning royalties as their products scale.
Beyond research, the Centre aims to create an environment where students can collaborate with ValuePitch’s engineering and AI teams on live projects spanning Generative AI, Agentic AI, Computer Vision, and decision intelligence, helping them build production-grade technical capabilities while addressing real industry challenges.
Through the Centre for Advanced AI Innovation & Research, ValuePitch and SMVIT aim to foster a new generation of engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs capable of building AI solutions that address real-world challenges while strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem.