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March 2024 : The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) recently concluded its highly successful three-day annual startup showcase festival, Abhivyakti'24, held in conjunction with Techkriti. Themed "Innovating a Sustainable Future," the event convened key stakeholders from academia, industry, and government to explore the critical intersection of technology and sustainability. The opening ceremony commenced with a lamp lighting by distinguished guests, including Divisional Commissioner Kanpur Amit Gupta and Ravi Ranjan, Special Secretary, Department of IT & Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh. Highlighting the contribution of SIIC, IIT Kanpur, Shri Amit Gupta said, “In today's world, we are presented with a multitude of challenges, accompanied by a wealth of potential solutions. However, the critical task lies in developing disruptive technologies that can effectively disseminate these solutions to a broad audience. Recognizing this need, the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur has dedicated the past two decades to cultivating an ecosystem that empowers startups to achieve precisely this goal.” Before the inauguration, a tribute was paid to the late Prof. Sameer Khandekar, former Professor in charge of SIIC, in recognition of his significant contributions to science and academia. SIIC partnered with Mount Tech Ventures to launch the Kavachh Fund, offering financial support of up to INR 5 crore to promising startups. The initiative was unveiled by Dr. Ajay Kumar, former Defence Secretary of India, who highlighted the event's steadfast dedication to fostering future generations of innovators and entrepreneurs. The exhibition, titled "The Pulse of Innovation – Demo of Tomorrow's Disruptors," showcased cutting-edge technologies poised to redefine various industries. From advancements in healthcare to groundbreaking sustainable solutions, the exhibition exemplified Abhivyakti's dedication to fostering an ecosystem that tackles global challenges through impactful innovation. A series of insightful panel discussions addressed critical themes, including:
New Initiatives launched during the event included the UAV/UAS Accelerator Program, launched by the Center of Excellence for Capacity Building, Training, and Design of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to demonstrate the institute's unwavering commitment to advancing innovation in the aerospace sector. Startup Challenges by Gliders India Limited initiative highlighted the many opportunities available for startups in various sectors. Three healthtech startups, Life and Limb AI, Medantrik Medtech and Nadipulse launched their innovative products in prosthetics, pulmonary care, and ayurvedic diagnostics, respectively. Together, these visionary startups represent the pinnacle of innovation in health technology. Abhivyakti’24 also hosted outreach sessions for iDEX’s DISC 11 and ADITI, with over 1000 innovators participating. The event also had the Army Design Bureau team and 12 startups pitching their ideas in the Battle of Ideas, evaluated by esteemed personalities. A major highlight of Abhivyakti'24 was a book launch titled "Just Aspire" by Dr. Ajai Chowdhry, the co-founder of HCL. Dr. Chowdhry's inspiring journey and valuable insights for budding entrepreneurs left the audience spellbound. His words of wisdom were invaluable, and the book launch was a must-attend event for all those who aspire to make it big in the business world. The Pitch Battle, another noteworthy event at Abhivyakti'24, was where 20 promising startups presented their innovative ideas to a panel of over 12 distinguished investors. Startups from various sectors such as healthtech, cleantech, fintech and defense participated, competing for top prizes sponsored by Krafton, a reputed game development company. The winners were:
The concluding ceremony celebrated the event's success and served as a springboard for discussions on the future of innovation and technology. Networking opportunities fostered connections and collaborations between academia, industry, and government, emphasizing their crucial role in collaboratively building a sustainable future powered by technological advancements. Highlighting the impact of Abhivyakti, SIIC’s Professor in Charge, Professor Ankush Sharma said, “Organizing an event of this scale requires a great deal of effort and coordination. The SIIC team demonstrated tremendous hard work and sincerity to showcase the cutting-edge innovation of over 120 incubated startups. Such hard work pays off when SIIC tops the NIRF ranking in innovation.” Professor Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, co-professor in Charge, echoed this sentiment saying “Next year, Abhivyakti will be even bigger and better”. Abhivyakti'24 serves as a testament to SIIC IIT Kanpur's unwavering commitment to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, ultimately leading the charge towards a sustainable future. About SIIC, IIT Kanpur: The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur is one of the oldest incubators in India. It was established in 2000 when the entrepreneurial ecosystem was still in its early stages. This incubation ecosystem has been ranked number one in the NIRF ranking and is multifaceted and vibrant. It has been nurtured for more than two decades, and it bridges the gaps on the path to transforming an idea into a successful and meaningful business model. The academic institute's domain expertise and infrastructural prowess collectively showcase a talent for generating significant technological advancements and social impacts. About IIT Kanpur: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was established in 1959 and declared to be an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament. IIT Kanpur is best known for the highest standard of education in science and engineering and for seminal R&D contributions over the years. The institute has a sprawling lush green campus spread over 1055 acres with a large pool of academic and research resources spanning across 19 departments, 25 centres and 3 interdisciplinary programs in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines with more than 570 full-time faculty members and approximately 9000 students. For more information, visit www.iitk.ac.in. IIT Kanpur Gears Up for Abhivyakti'24: A Celebration of Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Kanpur, 9th March, 2024 – The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) is set to host Abhivyakti'24, an annual event focused on sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship. Scheduled for March 15th and 16th, 2024, this flagship event aims to unite diverse stakeholders, including students, professionals, and investors, to explore the crucial intersection of technology, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Organised by the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur, Abhivyakti'24 with the theme “Innovating a sustainable future” promises to be a vibrant platform for visionaries and change-makers to converge, collaborate, and generate novel ideas for a more sustainable future. The event recognizes the pivotal role of innovation in addressing current environmental challenges and seeks to spark the development of solutions that can positively impact our planet and society. A key element of the event is the highly anticipated Pitch Battle, where aspiring entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to present their innovative and sustainable solutions to a distinguished panel of judges and potential investors. This platform will provide valuable feedback and potential funding opportunities, nurturing the growth of groundbreaking ideas. "Abhivyakti'24 serves as a platform for visionaries and change-makers to collaborate and generate novel ideas for a more sustainable future," said ,Prof. Ankush Sharma, Professor-in-Charge of SIIC, IIT Kanpur. "We firmly believe that innovation is key to addressing current environmental challenges, and this event aims to spark the development of pioneering solutions that can positively impact our planet and society." The event will also feature a series of thought-provoking panel discussions and interactive workshops led by renowned industry leaders, academicians, and subject-matter experts. These sessions will delve deep into various aspects of sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship, exchanging insightful dialogues and knowledge-sharing. Attendees will also have the chance to connect with like-minded individuals, build valuable networks, and gain guidance from experienced mentors in their respective fields. A dedicated exhibition area will showcase over 150 cutting-edge technologies, innovative products, and sustainable solutions from various organizations and startups. Abhivyakti'24 is set to be a perfect stage for the startup ecosystem to collaborate and develop sustainable solutions for a better future. For more information about the event, including registration details and sponsorship opportunities, please visit Abhivyakti'24 About SIIC, IIT Kanpur: The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur is one of the oldest and most established incubators in India. It was founded in 2000, during a time when the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country was still in its infancy. Over the past two decades, the incubation ecosystem at IIT Kanpur has grown and flourished, providing support and guidance to those looking to turn their ideas into successful and meaningful business models. The combination of domain expertise and top-notch infrastructure has led to tremendous social impact and technological advancement over the years. About IIT Kanpur: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was established in 1959 and declared to be an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament. IIT Kanpur is best known for the highest standard of education in science and engineering and for seminal R&D contributions over the years. The institute has a sprawling lush green campus spread over 1055 acres with a large pool of academic and research resources spanning across 19 departments, 25 centres and 3 interdisciplinary programs in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines with more than 570 full-time faculty members and approximately 9000 students. For more information, visit www.iitk.ac.in. |
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