AICTE opens entry for 'India Innovation Initiative-2017'

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has opened entries for a mega “innovation challenge”, whose winners will get incubation support and be introduced to prospective investors for commercialisation of their products.

The nationwide contest will be organised by the technical education regulator in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) as well as the Department of Science and Technology of the Union Government.

“Students enrolled to the AICTE approved technical institutions are eligible to apply and the winners in the category will be recognized and rewarded by the AICTE,” the council said inviting entries for the challenge.

Only those students will get entry to the mega contest who have already developed a demonstrable prototype of their innovative idea or concept in any of the 14 areas, ranging from Agriculture, health care, consumer electronics, transportation and logistics to robotics and artificial intelligence.

“Indian citizens who are 18 years old and above can participate in the contest either as an individual or as a team of a maximum five persons. They must have a proof of their concept or prototype which is technically demonstrable,” an AICTE official told DH.

The last date for entry to the 'India Innovation Initiative-2017' is August 31. It is the ninth edition of the contest to be organised by the government in association with an industry body.

“We are going to organise it in a big way this year. The contest has already gained much popularity among the country's youth,” the official added.

Top 100 innovations will be selected after the first screening of the applications for entry to the contest. These innovators will then be invited to participate in the regional rounds, location and dates for which will be soon be announced.

Top 20 innovators will then be selected from the participants of the regional rounds for finals to be held here in Delhi this year.

“The final winners of the top awards will be awarded and recognized at a grand awards function here. They will also be connected with incubators, mentors, investors and angel networks to assist them in their start-up journey,” the official said.

The first 100 shortlisted innovators would be given an opportunity to receive “an exclusive and high-quality pre-incubation training” through regional workshops as an award under 'India Innovation Initiative-2017.