Kakkanad: The Rajagiri School of Engineering & Technology (RSET) has launched a state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Lab, setting a new benchmark in academic-industry integration and next-generation skill development in Kerala. Inaugurated at its Kakkanad campus, the lab is expected to serve as a dynamic platform where ideas, technology, and innovation converge to shape the future of AI and data science in India.
Housed within the Department of Artificial Intelligence & Data Science, the AI Innovation Lab is more than a facility it represents a strategic shift in the way technical education is being reimagined. The lab provides cutting-edge infrastructure including high-performance computing systems, NVIDIA-based GPU setups, AI-enabled robotic kits, cloud platforms, and smart sensors, creating a hands-on environment for real-world application and experimentation.
Students and faculty will now have the opportunity to work on live projects spanning machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, automation, and ethical AI. The lab is also integrated with the department’s academic curriculum through bridge courses, internships, and collaborative hackathons, promoting practical skills alongside theory.
Already, several student-led innovations have emerged from the facility. One standout project is SURYAMITHRA AI, an intelligent solar energy management system. Developed by a cross-disciplinary team of students and guided by experienced mentors, the project leverages AI to optimize solar power usage in rural and semi-urban settings. This solution not only demonstrates the lab's technical capabilities but also reflects RSET’s commitment to sustainable innovation.
In addition to energy, students are exploring AI solutions in agriculture (such as crop disease prediction), disaster response (flood detection systems), and education technology (adaptive learning platforms). These projects are developed under close faculty supervision and often involve mentorship from industry experts brought in through partnerships with companies and research bodies.
The lab is also a vital component of RSET’s strategy to bridge the gap between academia and industry. With plans to integrate the lab into Rajagiri’s Entrepreneurship and Incubation Center, students with viable project ideas will receive support for prototype development, patent filing, and even startup incubation. Industry professionals will participate in mentoring programs, giving students firsthand exposure to market needs and product thinking.
Events such as ‘Confluence’, RSET’s flagship industry-academic conclave, are expected to further deepen this collaboration. The upcoming edition of Confluence 2025 will be centered on “AI for Social Impact,” aligning with Kerala’s larger digital transformation roadmap.
Dr. P. Sojan Lal, a key figure in Kerala's technical education landscape and former principal of RSET, hailed the lab as a milestone. “This is not just a lab it’s a mission to produce socially responsible engineers who understand the ethical implications of AI. We are not just creating coders; we are shaping thinkers, builders, and change-makers.”
Echoing this vision, the lab places a strong emphasis on AI ethics, algorithmic transparency, and inclusion. Faculty members have designed modules to help students consider the broader societal implications of the technologies they build.
Students from more than 12 departments have already signed up to participate in lab-based projects, reflecting the lab’s cross-disciplinary reach. “Here, our ideas are heard, tested, and shaped. This lab gives us wings,” said Devika Nair, a third-year student in the AI & DS stream.
Over the coming months, the lab will also host workshops, public lectures, coding bootcamps, and AI outreach programs for school students, further establishing itself as a center for knowledge sharing beyond the confines of the campus.
With the AI Innovation Lab now fully operational, Rajagiri School of Engineering & Technology has solidified its place as a trailblazer in transformative education. In a world where artificial intelligence is redefining every facet of life from healthcare to governance RSET’s initiative is preparing its students not just to be part of the change, but to lead it.