Archives March 2026

Europe’s first dual-use startup developing autonomous vehicles and systems for complex maritime operations.

Puglia and Milan, Italy – Mar 9: The sea is one of the most critical infrastructures on the planet. Over 80% of global trade moves by sea, more than 90% of Europe’s foreign trade depends on maritime routes, and around 95% of international internet traffic flows through subsea cables. Today, the global blue economy is worth more than $2.5 trillion and, according to international estimates, is expected to exceed $4 trillion by 2030.

Despite its economic and geopolitical centrality, the maritime domain remains one of the most complex and least digitized environments in the world: high operational costs, limited continuous observability, significant exposure to risk, and a strong reliance on human operators. This is compounded by an increasingly structural trend: a shortage of qualified professionals, with thousands of operational roles difficult to fill and a steadily rising average age among captains and operators. A fully human-centric model is struggling to sustain continuous, safe, and scalable operations.

It is within this context that Mirai Robotics was founded — a European AI robotics lab with the ambition to build the robotic infrastructure needed to make the sea more governable, safe, and observable.

Mirai Robotics’ systems are designed to enable persistent surveillance, patrolling, monitoring, and control, reducing human exposure to risk and significantly lowering operational costs compared to traditional models. The company focuses on the deep integration of autonomous vehicles, advanced sensing, artificial intelligence, and control systems, approaching autonomy first and foremost as an engineering and industrial challenge — not merely a software one.

From a product perspective, Mirai Robotics has already developed two autonomous vehicles designed for different operational needs, targeting ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and patrolling scenarios in both coastal and offshore environments. The vehicles integrate advanced perception systems, autonomous navigation, remote control, and safety features, and are designed to operate either as standalone units or as part of distributed systems.

Alongside its proprietary platforms, Mirai Robotics also develops autonomy, navigation, and control solutions that can be integrated into third-party vehicles, enabling industrial and institutional operators to adopt autonomous technologies without having to fully redesign their existing fleets. This approach makes Mirai’s technology applicable across multiple civil and institutional use cases, following a dual-use by design logic.

The decision to start in Italy is deliberate. The country is historically a global leader in shipbuilding and maritime engineering, with internationally recognized excellence in defense, yachting, offshore, and marine infrastructure. Mirai Robotics was born at the intersection of this industrial heritage and a new generation of technologies based on advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems.

Mirai Robotics positions itself as an AI robotics lab, not merely a vertical solution provider. Its goal is to develop physical autonomy technologies capable of operating in extreme, mission-critical environments, where reliability, safety, and control are non-negotiable requirements.

The company was founded by Luciano Belviso (CEO), Luca Mascaro, and Davide Dattoli, board member. Luciano Belviso has previously built and led highly complex industrial companies, including Blackshape, a benchmark player in aircraft design and manufacturing, later acquired by Angel Holding. Luca Mascaro is an entrepreneur and technological designer, founder of Sketchin, later acquired by the BIP Group, where he served as Chief Innovation Officer, with extensive experience in building digital products and technology platforms at international scale. Davide Dattoli is an entrepreneur, founder of Talent Garden, and an investor in the tech and education ecosystem, with a long track record in scaling innovative companies across Europe.

Around the founding team, Mirai Robotics has assembled a pan-European team with expertise in artificial intelligence, robotics, complex systems, and mission-critical operations. The team includes top professionals and collaboration with leading universities and research centers.

The company is headquartered in Puglia, chosen as a strategic hub between the Mediterranean, industry, and research, with the ambition of building a European center of excellence for maritime autonomy.

Mirai Robotics has closed a $4.2 million pre-seed equity round, one of the largest in Italy in the robotics and deep-tech sector, led by top VC Primo Capital, Techshop and 40Jemz Ventures, with participation from leading Italian and international angel investors. The capital raised will be used to accelerate technology development, strengthen the team, and launch new pilot projects with industrial and institutional partners.

“The sea is one of the last major physical infrastructures not yet governed by software,” says Luciano Belviso, CEO of Mirai Robotics. “Autonomy is the key to finally making the oceans safe and usable, unlocking enormous resources and addressing critical security challenges. But it must be implemented through systems capable of operating continuously and safely in extreme environments. This is a technological and industrial challenge that requires a true robotics-lab approach.”

“The maritime domain is at an inflection point. We’re looking at a huge economy that still relies on operational models designed decades ago. The human capital gap alone—thousands of unfilled roles, aging workforces, increasing operational risk—makes the status quo unsustainable. What Mirai Robotics is building isn’t just automation; it’s the fundamental infrastructure layer that will allow the blue economy to scale safely and efficiently. Italy’s shipbuilding heritage combined with this caliber of robotics and AI talent creates a genuinely unique opportunity”  – Gianluca Dettori Partner at Primo Capital, lead investors in the round.

With Mirai Robotics, Italy strengthens its historic role in the blue economy, projecting it into a new phase where robotics and artificial intelligence become foundational infrastructure for security, industry, and the economies of the future.

Mumbai, Mar 9: On the night of March 8, 2026, India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs to clinch their third T20 World Cup, marking historic firsts: the highest total in a World Cup final, the first title successfully defended, and the first won on home soil. For 1.4 billion cricket fans, it was a night of exhilaration and celebration.

 For Schbang, India’s leading Creative, Media, and Technology Transformation Company, the historic moment was a brief to showcase its real-time moment marketing expertise. Within hours of the final wicket, Schbang created 24 distinct brand creatives, each tailored to a brand’s voice, audience, and marketing objective. From witty puns to visually engaging posts, no two messages were alike, proving the power of strategy, speed, and creativity working in sync.

Some highlights included:

• Flair Pens: “That’s India signing another win.” Cleverly connecting the act of signing with victory.

• CRIF: “When the score is this good, it deserves full credit.” A seamless alignment of cricket scoreboard and credit scoring.

• Britannia Come Alive: “Kiwis were on the menu tonight!” A playful pun blending product and match context.

• HDFC Bank: “India x World Cup. Transaction successful.” Translating national joy into fintech language.

• Medimix Ayurvedic: “Winning comes naturally to Team India.” Linking brand heritage with India’s performance.

The campaign demonstrated how brands can respond meaningfully to cultural moments without forcing a connection, elevating engagement while remaining authentic. Each creative resonated with its audience by placing the brand in relevant and celebratory contexts, from playful banter to thoughtful reflections on victory.

Chennai, Mar 09: Marking International Women’s Day 2026, South Indian Bank unveiled the second edition of Women Like You, a special coffee table book that chronicles the inspirational journeys of 53 remarkable women from diverse fields. The book was launched at a grand event in Chennai, celebrating women who continue to shape society through resilience, leadership, and determination.

 Building on the success of its inaugural edition, the latest volume reflects the theme “Between Dreams and Duties,” highlighting stories of women who balance ambition with responsibility while overcoming challenges and inspiring others.

The event featured renowned Tamil orator and author Bharathy Bhaskar, who also serves as an Independent Director at Hatsun Agro Product Ltd. She spoke about the evolving role of women in leadership and emphasized the importance of perseverance and self-belief.

A panel discussion titled “Women Supporting Women: Where Real Change Begins” was moderated by documentary filmmaker and journalist Aparna Ganesan. The session brought together prominent voices including Mahalakshmi Saravanan, Founder of Women Entrepreneurs India; Muthamil Selvi, the first woman from Tamil Nadu to scale Mount Everest; Mohana Sundari, Founder of Veera Pengal Munnetra Sangam; Nisha John, Clinical Psychologist; and Saundarya Rajesh, Founder-President of Avtar Group.

The programme also included a Succession Planning Session led by Sreejith Kuniyil, offering insights on financial preparedness and legacy planning. The evening concluded with a musical performance by acclaimed Carnatic and playback singer Charulatha Mani.

Through this initiative, South Indian Bank reaffirmed its commitment to women’s empowerment and financial inclusion, creating platforms that celebrate the achievements of women and encourage them to pursue their aspirations with confidence.

Hyderabad, Mar 9: Marking International Women’s Day, Omega Hospitals launched the Omega Cancer Foundation and hosted the Omega Women’s Wellness Summit 2026, bringing together policymakers, healthcare experts, and community leaders to highlight the importance of women’s health, cancer awareness, and preventive care.

 The event was attended by  Seethakka Garu, Minister for Women & Child Welfare, Telangana, who formally launched the Omega Cancer Foundation. Appreciating the initiative, she emphasised the importance of strengthening preventive healthcare, early diagnosis, and access to quality cancer care.

Addressing the gathering, Seethakka Garu highlighted the important role women play in families, workplaces, and society, and stressed the need to prioritise women’s health and wellbeing. She noted that prevention is better than cure and underscored the importance of regular health check-ups and greater awareness. She also emphasised the importance of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer and encouraged women and families to adopt preventive healthcare practices.

Emphasising the message “Stand with Her,” she called on families and communities to support women in prioritising their health through timely screening and preventive care. She also appreciated the efforts of the Omega Cancer Foundation in expanding cancer awareness and screening initiatives in rural areas, panchayats, and grassroots communities, and conveyed her best wishes for the foundation’s initiatives.

As part of the initiative, Omega Hospitals announced dedicated infrastructure support for the foundation’s activities. At its Banjara Hills facility, a 230-bed comprehensive cancer hospital, 60 beds—over 25 percent of the total capacity—will be dedicated to the Omega Cancer Foundation.

Dr. Mohana Vamsy, Chief Surgical Oncologist & Managing Director, Omega Hospitals, said the hospital’s focus goes beyond treatment to strengthening awareness, early detection, and preventive healthcare, particularly in underserved communities.

A highlight of the event was the Astha Shakti Honours – “Daughters of the Soil,” recognising eight women for their contributions to society.

The honourees included: • Kalpana Ramesh garu – Jala Shakti, for her leadership in urban water conservation and sustainable water management.

• Dr. Shiva Ranjani Santosh garu – Arogya Shakti, for advancing public health awareness and responsible healthcare initiatives.

• NSK Kumari garu – Karuna Shakti, for over three decades of dedication to animal rescue and welfare.

• Sailaja Kiran garu – Dhana Shakti, for leadership and entrepreneurial contributions in industry.

• Roopa Maganti garu – Udyama Shakti, for empowering rural communities through sustainable development initiatives.

• Lakshmi Manchu garu – Kala Shakti, for using art, cinema, and philanthropy to inspire social change.

• Lalitha Raghuram garu – Jeevana Shakti, for advancing organ donation awareness and strengthening India’s organ donation movement.

 • Sunitha Krishnan garu – Nyaya Shakti, for her work in combating human trafficking and supporting survivors.

Following the launch and felicitation ceremony, Omega Hospitals, in association with the Obstetric and Gynaecological Society of Hyderabad (OGSH), also conducted a Continuing Medical Education (CME) session for young doctors on advancements in cancer care.

Mar 09: Marking another milestone achievement, Perceptive Ideas Consulting Engineers proudly announces its role in structurally designing the plans for Vanijya Bhawa. Located at 16A Akbar Road on the iconic C-Hexagon in New Delhi, this prestigious complex is the designated office for the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. This remarkable blend of advanced, modern engineering plans and cultural heritage marks a significant milestone for the firm, as a testament to Perceptive Ideas’ contribution to one of the most prominent government infrastructure development projects. With Vanijya Bhawan, Perceptive Ideas Consulting has reinforced its expertise in delivering functional and structurally advanced public architectural plans.

 Functionally, Vanijya Bhawan houses the offices of the Ministers of Commerce and Industry, the Secretary’s office, and accommodates 1800 to 2000 officers.

Perceptive Ideas introduced plans for a modern steel structural framework integrated with traditional façade treatments that will ensure both structural efficiency and architectural harmony. The project incorporates composite columns to enhance load-bearing capacity and optimise performance. The expansive and efficient floor layouts were possible after utilising shallow depth post-tensioned (PT) beams for structural flexibility. Large-span cantilever projections and a prominent cantilevered canopy create open, column-free spaces, elevating functionality and spatial experience. 

To enhance performance and durability, modern construction technologies, including steel structures and post-tensioned slabs, were used. 

Speaking on this achievement, Mr. Ajay Gupta, Principal Consultant and Founder of Perceptive Ideas Consulting, stated,

“This marks another milestone for our organisation, especially when we are associated with a project as grand as Vanijya Bhawan. It represents our capabilities and commitment to deliver structural engineering plans within a framework of national heritage. We applied a techno-commercial approach to ensure functionality, longevity and sustainability to maintain the architectural dignity of this project.”

By successfully designing for Vanijya Bhawan, Perceptive Ideas further enhances its portfolio in large-scale government and institutional projects. It continues to cross boundaries with a combination of design innovation and structural artistry. Over the years, the organisation has diligently worked in turning complex architectural visions into structurally efficient realities. Hence, this milestone reinforces its contribution to India’s evolving infrastructure. 

Bengaluru,  Mar 9: M5 Ecity Mall, the premier shopping destination in Bengaluru collaborated with the Stick to Safety group to host the Stick to Safety and Quality Marathon, in celebration of International Women’s Day. The inclusive community run was inspired by the global theme “Give to Gain.” The event was flagged off by Mrs. Swathi Maurya, Fitness coach and Cultural ambassador for Aesthetic Creation and Mr. Dattatrya, a senior ambassador aged 95, and a veteran runner from 8 years.

The marathon was a purpose-driven initiative promoting women’s safety and equal access to public spaces and community responsibility. While women remained at the heart of the movement, the event also invited men and families to participate as allies, reinforcing that safety and equality are collective responsibilities.

The marathon categories included a 3k Inspire run, 5K Empower run and 10K Endurance run. The event was flagged off at 5:30am on March 8th and saw many people participate in the marathon. Strict safety protocols were followed with hydration intervals at a checkpoint of every 2 kms. The winners were awarded a trophy, and each participant received a medal of participation, followed by a Zumba session for all participants.

Commenting on the occasion, Mahendra Nagaraj, Vice President, M5 Mahendra Group said,

 “On International Women’s Day, we are proud to support initiatives that encourage greater awareness around women’s safety and wellbeing. As a community-centric destination, M5 Ecity Mall remains committed to fostering inclusive and secure public spaces where women feel confident and empowered. Such engagements underline the importance of collective participation in building safer environments and reinforcing shared responsibility towards creating a culture of respect, awareness, and safety within our communities.”

Through this initiative, M5 Ecity Mall strengthens its role as a community-focused destination supporting women’s empowerment, public safety, and social awareness. By encouraging collective participation, the mall remains committed to fostering inclusive spaces and driving meaningful initiatives that contribute to a safer and more responsible urban community.