The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) of Srinivas Institute of Technology, Valachil, Mangaluru, in association with AMARA, organized an expert talk titled “Democratizing AI Resources: Enabling Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship” on 07 February 2026 at 10:00 AM in Room No. M503, Mechanical Block. The program was conducted with the objective of creating awareness among students about accessible artificial intelligence resources and their role in promoting innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.

The program commenced with a formal inaugural session, and the proceedings were efficiently coordinated by Ms. Kamalatha, a 6th Semester student of Aeronautical Engineering, who served as the Master of Ceremony. The event was graced by the presence of Dr. Sandesh Kumar Rai, Head of the Department, Automobile Engineering, and Dr. Praveen Shenoy, Head of the Department, Aeronautical Engineering, whose presence encouraged student participation and reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary learning and innovation-driven academic culture.

The technical session was delivered by Prof. Vivek Vijay Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Marine Engineering, Srinivas Institute of Technology, Mangaluru. In his address, he emphasized the importance of democratizing artificial intelligence by making advanced AI tools, platforms, and resources accessible to students, innovators, and aspiring entrepreneurs. He discussed various open-source and cost-effective AI tools that can be effectively utilized for project development, problem-solving, and startup ideation without the need for extensive infrastructure.

The speaker highlighted how AI can serve as a powerful enabler of inclusive innovation by bridging gaps between technology access and creativity. Through practical examples, he demonstrated the role of AI in ideation, prototyping, decision-making, and business model development. The session motivated students to explore AI-based solutions for real-world challenges and encouraged them to integrate AI tools into their academic and entrepreneurial activities.

The interactive session that followed witnessed active participation from students, who raised queries related to AI applications, ethical considerations, and career prospects in the field of artificial intelligence. The resource person addressed the questions with clarity and provided valuable guidance. The event was successfully coordinated by Mr. Prakash T and Dr. Niranjan Prabhu, Staff Coordinators, and concluded with enthusiastic participation from students and faculty members.