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NEXION Sponsors the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts for artists residency
Mumba: Nexion, the Indo-Italian one of the production company of high-quality sintered stone, entered into a sponsorship agreement with the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad, India. This collaboration was proposed by Mallika Sarabhai, an influential figure in the city of Ahmedabad. She completed her MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and her Ph.D. from Gujarat University. Mallika established herself as an international activist, actress, and dancer in Indian classical dance.
Mallika is the daughter of Dr Vikram Sarabhai, a prominent figure in the field of science and development in India, considered the father of the country’s space program, and Mrinalini Sarabhai, dancer of Indian classical dance and the founder of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. Today, Mallika leads the Darpana Academy, preserving and promoting the rich artistic heritage of India.
This year, Mallika Sarabhai and Nexion decided to form a three-year partnership to sponsor an artist residency at the Darpana Academy. Thanks to Nexion, India hosted Massimiliano Troiani, an Italian director and son of a master in cinematographic photography, known worldwide for his work in documentary and theatre, and Laura Fasciolo, a renowned Italian set designer with years of experience in theatrical and museum exhibitions related to iconography and bibliography.
Massimiliano staged a reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, incorporating both Italian and Indian cultural elements. The show, which featured Mallika in a leading role, premiered at the 44th Vikram Sarabhai International Arts Festival of Natarani, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, and will be going on tour.
Darpana Academy of Performing Arts founder Mallika Sarabhai expressed her joy in the collaboration stating, “Working on Macbeth with Massimiliano was a delightful experience. His diverse background as a theatre director, filmmaker, and puppeteer aligns well with the varied artistic fields at Darpana. The synergy between our culture and artistic approach allowed for the emergence of new and exciting elements during the collaboration.
She added, “The collaboration between Darpana and Nexion has been fueled by a shared passion for the arts. Nexion’s founder, Luca, recognizes the humanizing power of the arts and believes in providing support without interfering with the artistic vision. “
Nexion CEO Luca Majocch said, “Since its inception, we have brought the Italian way of doing business to India. With our commitment to societal contribution, we seamlessly align with Darpana Academy, celebrated for its rich legacy in promoting art and culture. Massimiliano’s participation in the residency further underscores our shared dedication and efforts. This commitment extends to our core values, where we prioritize people’s well-being through the consistent delivery of high-quality products. Our holistic approach interweaves cultural exchange and community well-being, creating a meaningful connection between our values and endeavors.”
Massimiliano Troiani, Italian Director, mentioned, “Embarking on a collaborative journey with Darpana is a captivating experience within a culturally rich environment, where artistic and technical talents seamlessly unite. My initial collaboration dates back to 2000 when I directed a performance inspired by the ancient Latin tale Aeneid. This journey emphasizes the lasting connection between India and Italy over the years, based on cultural connections that go beyond mere economic or political factors. Italy has contributed to scholars like Giuseppe Tucci and Weaver, enriching the understanding of Indian culture. Indian philosophy continues to captivate Italy, from poetry to pedagogical studies, as exemplified by Maria Montessori, who found inspiration in meeting Mahatma Gandhi.”
The goal of the production was to create a cultural bridge between Italy and India, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of both nations. The collaboration not only celebrated art and creativity but also contributed to strengthening ties between local and international communities, promoting cultural exchange, mutual learning, and the well-being of the community. Ahmedabad, as a meeting point between the two realities, is also where Nexion’s central office and production facility have found their home.
Here, in the heart of this city, Ahmedabad, not only products and projects come to life but also human connections that transcend geographical boundaries.
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Samsung certifies 1,000 Maharashtra students in AI and coding
The South Korean electronics giant marks its first large-scale skilling push in the state, with women making up nearly half the national programme’s enrolment
PUNE: Samsung has put 1,000 students in Maharashtra through a certified training programme in artificial intelligence and coding, the largest such drive the South Korean electronics company has run in the state and a signal that corporate India’s skilling ambitions are moving well beyond the boardroom brochure.
The certifications were awarded under Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC), the company’s flagship corporate social responsibility programme, which launched in India in 2022 with the stated aim of democratising access to future-technology education. The 1,000 graduates were drawn from four institutions: 127 from Savitribai Phule Pune University, 373 from Pimpri Chinchwad University, 250 from D.Y. Patil University’s Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology and 250 from Anjuman-I-Islam’s Kalsekar Technical Campus. All completed training in either AI or coding and programming, the two disciplines Samsung has identified as the critical pillars of the digital economy.
The programme does not stop at technical training. Soft-skills development and career-readiness modules are baked into the curriculum, a deliberate attempt to close the gap between what universities teach and what employers actually want.
“India’s digital growth story will ultimately be shaped by the quality of its talent pipeline,” said Shubham Mukherjee, head of CSR and corporate communications at Samsung Southwest Asia. “As technologies like AI move from the periphery to the core of industries, skilling must evolve from basic training to building real-world capability. This milestone in Maharashtra reflects how industry and academia can come together to create a future-ready workforce that is both globally competitive and locally relevant.”
The Maharashtra drive sits within a rapidly scaling national effort. Samsung Innovation Campus trained 20,000 young people across India in 2025, hitting its stated target for the year. Women account for 48 per cent of national enrolments, a figure the company cites as evidence of its push for an inclusive technology ecosystem. The programme is implemented in partnership with the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India and the Telecom Sector Skill Council.
Samsung, which is marking 30 years in India this year, runs SIC alongside two other initiatives, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and Samsung DOST, as part of a broader effort to build what it calls a generation of innovators with both the technical depth and the problem-solving mindset to thrive in a fast-moving digital world.
A thousand certified students is a tidy headline. Whether they find jobs that match their new skills is the harder question, and the one that will ultimately determine whether corporate skilling programmes like this one are genuine pipelines or well-photographed gestures.
