Dr. Manohara M.M. Pai
Senior Professor, School of Computer Engineering, MIT, Manipal
About Dr. Manohara Pai M.M.
Dr. Manohara Pai M.M. is a distinguished academic leader with over 33 years of experience spanning industry, research, and education. As a Senior Professor in the Department of Information and Communication Technology at Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), he has been instrumental in shaping technical education and research innovation at Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).
Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Pai has made numerous significant contributions to MAHE, including establishing the Department of Information and Communication Technology, setting up the Innovation Centre, and founding the MU Technology Business Incubator. His leadership has fostered a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, resulting in numerous startups and industry collaborations.
Dr. Pai is the holder of the prestigious Dr. TMA Pai Endowment Chair in Intelligent Technologies, Industry 4.0 and Sustainability (2023-2025), recognizing his expertise and contributions to these fields. His work bridges academic research with real-world applications, creating technologies that address societal challenges.
Awards and Patents
National Technical Teachers Award (NTTA 2022)
Key Administrative Positions Held
Associate Director (Research and Consultancy), MIT, MAHE
Jan 2017 - Dec 2019
- Responsible for enhancing the number of publications of the Institute from 347 to 770.
- The number of PhD registrations enhanced to more than 200.
- Reforms in PhD progress monitoring process.
Associate Director (Innovation Center), MIT, MAHE
March 2008 - Dec 2016
- Established Central Instrumentation Facility inaugurated by Dr. Anil Kakodkar.
- Established Central Computing facility with High-Performance Computing.
- Started an annual event 'Innovation Day'.
- Established the Technology Business Incubator (grant of ₹5 Crores from DST & MAHE).
- Established Intellectual Property services (>50 patents filed, >10 granted).
- Received innovation award from Mr. Prithviraj Chavan (then Minister of S&T).
Head of Department of ICT, MIT, MAHE
May 2001 - Jan 2008
- Established the new Department with B.Tech(IT) and MCA programs.
- Started M.Tech(Computer Networking and Engineering) in 2005.
- Started M.Tech(Software Engineering) in 2006 with TU Eindhoven, Netherlands.
- Started an annual event 'p.i.n.g'.
- Organized International Conference ICICOT 07 for MIT's Golden Jubilee.
CEO, Manipal University Technology Business Incubator (MUTBI)
April 2010 - June 2016
- Set up MUTBI Society and was founder Secretary.
- Set up 16,000 sq. ft. incubation facility for 10 start-ups & 10 pre-incubatees.
- Created a corpus of ₹2 crores as seed support grant.
- Started 'Provenance' Business plan competition (awards of ₹10 lakhs).
- Industrial Collaboration for Incubation supported by TE-Connectivity.
Academic Background
Education
Ph.D. in Computer Science & Engineering
University of Mysore
M.Tech in Digital Electronics and Advanced Communications
NITK, Surathkal
B.E. in Electronics & Communication
SJCE, Mysore
Professional Experience & Academic Positions
- 33 years of experience in Administration, Teaching, Research, Industrial Collaborations, and Consultancy.
- Senior Professor: June 2023 - Till date
- Professor: Oct. 2001 - June, 2023
- Reader: Sept. 1995 - Oct, 2001
- Lecturer: Feb. 1992 - Sept, 1995
Key Achievements & Contributions
Patents & Publications
Holds 10 granted patents (3 US, 1 Japan, 6 Indian). Selected patents include: US9616346B2, US9503511B2, US8295280B2, JP5512889, IN280657.
Received a Patenting Award of $8000.
Published 156 papers in national/international journals and conference proceedings.
Academic Mentorship
Guided 8 PhD students to completion.
Currently guiding 6 PhD students.
Guided 81 M.Tech theses.
Many former students now hold leadership positions, continuing his legacy of innovation.
International Engagement
- Visiting Professor, ESIGELEC, France (since 2006).
- PhD Examiner, University of Rouen, France.
- Technology Commercialization Training, IC2 Institute, University of Texas, Austin (2010, Indo-US S&T Forum).
- Attended Global Forum on Innovation & Technology Entrepreneurship (Infodev), Helsinki (2011).
- Visited TU Eindhoven (2007-2010) for collaborations.
Notable Career Milestones
Founder Head, Dept. of ICT, MIT
Established the Department of Information and Communication Technology at MIT in 2001 and served as its founder Head until 2008, introducing B.Tech(IT), MCA, and specialized M.Tech programs.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Founder Associate Director of the DST-supported Innovation Centre (2008) and Founder CEO of Manipal University Technology Business Incubator (MUTBI), fostering startups and industry collaborations.
Advanced Curriculum Development
Introduced M.Tech in Communication and Networking Engineering (2005) and a unique Dual Degree M.Tech in Software Engineering in collaboration with TU Eindhoven, Netherlands (2006).
Director, Centre for Artificial Intelligence
Currently leads the Centre for Artificial Intelligence at MIT, MAHE, a hub for AI research, innovation, and industry collaboration on real-world applications.
Authored Books
Advances in Information & Communication Technologies ICICOT'07
Co-edited proceedings for the International Conference (ICICOT 2007).
Scalable Video Coding using wavelet Transformation
A specialized book on video coding techniques.
Funding, Awards & Recognition
Research Funding
Dr. Pai has been instrumental in securing significant research funding. Notably, he established the Technology Business Incubator at MIT, MAHE with a grant of ₹5 Crores from DST, Govt. of India, and MAHE. He has also secured multiple grants from organizations including:
- BIRAC
- Department of Science & Technology (DST)
- IBM
- TE Connectivity
- Schneider Electric
Key Awards & Honors
Dr. TMA Pai Endowment Chair in Intelligent Technologies, Industry 4.0 and Sustainability
Awarded for 2023-2025 in recognition of expertise and leadership.
National Technical Teachers Award (NTTA 2022)
From AICTE, Ministry of Education, Govt. of India for contributions to technical education.
Dr. TMA Pai Endowment Chair in Data Analytics and Cloud Computing
Awarded for 2011-2014 for contributions to the field.
Indigenous Dental Implants Technology Mentorship Award
From Hon. Minister of Science & Technology (IUSSTF-INTEL-DST, 2009).
Certified Trainer, Infodev, World Bank
For Business Incubation and Technology Commercialization (March 2012).
Professional Activities & Memberships
Memberships:
- Senior Member, IEEE
- Chair, IEEE Mangalore Subsection (2019)
- Past Execom Member, IEEE Bangalore Section (2019)
- Life Member, ISTE (Indian Society for Technical Education)
- Life Member, Systems Society of India
Advisory & Review Roles:
- Advisor & Subject Expert for UPSC (IAS/IPS/IFS selection)
- Subject Expert & Advisor to Goa Public Service Commission
- Reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Video Processing
- Chaired sessions in over 20 International Conferences
Research Interests & Expertise
Dr. Pai's primary research and expertise encompass:
Computer Communication Networks, Wireless Adhoc Networks, Video Processing,
Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, Technology Commercialization, Patenting, and Mentoring.
(Mentoring expertise certified by Infodev World Bank, Washington D.C.)
He focuses on developing innovative solutions in application areas including:
AI and Healthcare Applications
Dr. Pai leads cutting-edge research at the intersection of AI and healthcare, focusing on:
- Developing AI-powered diagnostic tools for early disease detection
- Creating wearable IoT devices for remote patient monitoring
- Designing machine learning algorithms for healthcare data analytics
- Building cloud-based healthcare data management systems
His team has developed patented healthcare innovations including dental implant technology recognized by the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Industrial IoT and Sensor Networks
With extensive expertise in IoT and sensor technologies, his research includes:
- Smart factory automation and monitoring systems
- Energy-efficient wireless sensor networks for industrial applications
- Real-time data analytics for process optimization
- GPS and location-based services for logistics and transportation
His work has led to industry collaborations with global partners like IBM, TE Connectivity, and Schneider Electric.
Data Analytics and Cloud Computing
As the holder of the Dr. TMA Pai Endowment Chair for Data Analytics and Cloud Computing, Dr. Pai specializes in:
- Big data analytics frameworks for business intelligence
- Cloud-based solutions for data storage and processing
- Security and privacy in cloud computing environments
- Edge computing architectures for distributed systems
His research in this area has resulted in multiple patents and technology transfers to industry partners.
Food Tech and Nutrition Informatics
Dr. Pai has pioneered innovative technologies in food and nutrition:
- Nutrition analytics platforms for personalized diet planning
- Food quality assessment using computer vision
- IoT-based supply chain monitoring for food safety
- Sustainable food technologies aligned with SDG goals
Through these innovations, Dr. Pai contributes to addressing global challenges in food security and nutrition.
Dr. Pai's work aligns with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), showcasing his commitment to impactful and meaningful research.
His research team has published 156 papers and secured 10 patents across these diverse domains, establishing him as a pioneer in technological innovation.
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