The National Institute of Engineering (NIE), Mysuru, in collaboration with Lenovo and Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF), has announced the development of ALPHA (Advanced Laboratory for Programming, Hardware, and Analytics) Innovation and Tinkerers’ Lab – described as one of its kind AI-focused labs built on the Tinkerers’ model.

Reckoned to be a first-of-its-kind initiative at NIE in Mysuru, marking Lenovo’s first CSR partnership with a higher education institution in India and the MBF’s first tie-up beyond IITs and BITS. It is also NIE’s first CSR-backed lab, according to NIE.

Located on the north campus, the lab will provide round-the-clock access and feature high-performance computing systems, advanced prototyping tools, and resources for AI, ML, IoT, and digital fabrication.

NIE principal Rohini Nagapadma said it promotes hands-on interdisciplinary learning and innovation.

She added that through MBF’s LEAP (Learn Engineering by Activity and with Products) programme and Lenovo’s Professor of Practice (PoP) model, the lab will integrate industry programmes into the curriculum, helping students across departments build real-world solutions that combine hardware, software, and data.

According to a press release here, the lab is supported under Lenovo’s CSR by Lenovo Global Technology India Private Limited and Motorola Mobility India Private Limited, with mentorship and curriculum support from Lenovo’s India R and D Teams.

Balaji V., assistant professor and project head, ALPHA, and others were present.