New Delhi, February 10, 2024: vivo India has announced the national winners of its country-wide initiative – ‘vivo Ignite: Technology and Innovation Awards', in collaboration with NCERT and iHub DivyaSampark, IIT Roorkee.
With more than 19,000 registrations and over 4,000 projects received countrywide, ‘SMART STREET - Where Innovation Meets Sustainability’ won the first prize worth INR 7 lakhs for presenting a prototype aimed at implementing smart streets for safer, greener, scenic roads.
As many as 10 national finalists presented scientifically innovative and socially relevant projects, out of which the top 5 were declared national winners. The initiative was open to all Indian students of grades 8 to 12 and was conducted in three stages between November 2023 and February 2024.
The event was held in the presence of Chief Guest Shri Rajendra Prasad Singh, Chief Scientist and Head, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India.
Geetaj Channana, Head of Corporate Strategy, vivo India, congratulated the participants and the winners. "It is a joy to embrace the spirit of innovation and creativity, with the vivo Ignite: Technology and Innovation Awards. We're profoundly inspired by the ingenuity and creativity demonstrated by these young minds. Through our CSR initiatives like vivo Ignite, we aim to nurture and empower emerging talent, offering a platform for their sustainable and globally competitive ideas. With an overwhelming response of over 19,000 participants and 4000+ projects nationwide, we're thrilled to witness the exponential growth and enthusiasm surrounding vivo Ignite, building upon the success of previous years," he said.
The runners-up were Multi-Functional Eco-Friendly Agro Machine, Automatic Machine For Ready To Grow Oyster Mushroom Bags, Optimization For Cyclists' Posture Using Real-Time Embedded System And Data Analysis, and STEMLY, sharing cash prizes worth INR 14 lakhs. The sixth to tenth national finalists were rewarded with a cash prize worth INR 25,000 each.
“The vivo Ignite Awards serve as a testament to the remarkable creativity and problem-solving abilities of our youth. It's truly inspiring to see young minds channel their energies towards finding solutions to pressing societal issues. The winning project, 'Smart Street – Where Innovation Meets Sustainability,' exemplifies the potential of innovative thinking to create safer, greener, and more efficient urban environments. We applaud vivo's commitment to fostering innovation among Indian students and look forward to witnessing the continued impact of this collaborative effort," said Prof (Dr.) Indu Kumar, Head, Department of ICT and Training Division, CIET – NCERT.
Manish Anand, CEO, iHub DivyaSampark, IIT Roorkee, said that the vivo Ignite Awards, in collaboration with iHub Divyasampark, IIT Roorkee, represent a celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship among India's youth. “The winning projects, including the top 10 most innovative business ideas, showcase the ingenuity and potential of young minds to address complex societal challenges through technology and innovation. As partners in this initiative, iHub is proud to actively support and recognize the efforts of these students in creating impactful solutions. The success of vivo Ignite underscores the importance of nurturing a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in India, and we are excited to see the continued growth and impact of such initiatives in the future," he said.
Furthermore, certificates and goodies will be awarded to all 10 national finalists and 200 zonal winners. The top 25 ideas, selected based on video submissions, are being evaluated and considered for research study/incubation/start-up by iHUB DivyaSampark – the innovation center of IIT Roorkee.
The jury comprised academicians from prestigious institutes of the country and distinguished industry experts who closely evaluated all the projects based on criteria such as creativity, innovation, utilization of science and technology, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and potential societal impact. The initiative is aligned with the “Scientific Social Responsibility” agenda taken up by the Department of Science and Technology, GOI.
Last year, vivo Ignite, Science and Innovation Awards recognized ten national winners from over 2000 entries for their impactful projects, awarded cash prizes totaling over INR 25 lakhs.
