WeSchool Idea Contest 2015-16 draws 200 record breaking innovative ideas
200 students - 100 colleges -
200 Ideas presented for making India a better place to live and work
Bengaluru 7th Mar 2016: Prin L N Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research (WeSchool), concluded the IDEA Contest 2015-16 'Think India, Transform India' at their Bengaluru campus. The Idea Contest "Think India, Transform India" dedicated to Late Dr. Abdul Kalam's vision of India 2020 witnessed students from colleges across Karnataka, Seemandhra, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Eminent industry professionals were part of the two days Grand Finale witnessing the innovative ideas presented by young minds.
The grand finale was organized at the WeSchool campus in Electronics City with more than two hundred students presenting innovative ideas and prototypes. The ideas presented were on the themes relating to recent Government initiatives such as Make in India, Smart city, Swachh Bharat, Digital India, Skill India, Start up India Stand up India and Incredible India. Nine students were shortlisted for the prize money worth Rupees three lacs out of 200 hundred entries.
Chief Guest on the occasion, Mr. Dattatreya Gaur, Senior Vice-President, Head, Bosch India in his inaugural address said "Today's bright young minds have more opportunity to explore career options. The government of India is enabling the youth to come forward and present ideas that can solve prevailing issues in a collective manner. The initiatives in Make in India, Start up India are creating an environment for budding entrepreneurs in the country. He appreciated the initiative taken by WeSchool, to encourage youth to work for a national issue."
Members of the esteemed jury included industry experts like Mr.Ajay Nanavati-Ex MD 3M Ltd, Mr. Sudeesh Venkatesh -CHRO, Azim Premji Foundation, Mr.Surendra Shahi-Founder, Street Appy, Mr. Sanjay Anandram-Venture Capitalist, Mrs .Revathy Ashok CEO, BPAC. Originality and feasibility were the two crucial criteria while rating the competing ideas.
Satyanarayanan - a student of PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore bagged first prize worth rupees two lakh, for presenting the idea of inventing a walking stick for visually challenged people with voice assistance. The stick will be IoT enabled and will act as an electronic travelling aid. The concept presented was under the 'Make In India' theme.
Francis S. Mondal from VIT, Vellore won the second prize of rupees one lakh for his idea of 'Solar Cell with a Brain' at the contest. The idea shared a concept of solar cells which are self -cleaning and self -cooling and have features of solar tracking and selective absorption; these are four times more efficient yet come at three fourth of the current cost.
Dr. Anil Rao, Dean & Director, WeSchool Bengaluru said, "The Idea Contest 2015-16 was envisioned to spread awareness on the challenges and social issues existing in the country. At WeSchool, we strive to develop design thinking, entrepreneurial skills and creative mindset among our students. We hope the young participants who attended the Grand Finale have been able to assimilate the thought process. Also, the much talked about demographic dividend can be dividend in the real sense only when leveraged pragmatically. We need to create traction for brilliance and creativity. Such idea fests serve the twin purpose of resourcing brilliance and creativity and very same purpose along with aligning education to the goals of nation building and demands of civic issues. Innovation ascendancy is possible only if we encourage ideators."
The other shortlisted students were - Akhilesh, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore; Vishnu Priya S, Karpagam College of Engineering, Hyderabad; Sharath Teja D, St Martin's Engineering College, Hyderabad; Md. Farhan, PSG College of Art & Science, Coimbatore and Anand N, Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering & Technology, Cochin.
About WeSchool, Bangalore
Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research, Electronic City Bangalore popularly known as WeSchool was established in the year 2007. The uniqueness of Welingkar - Bangalore, lies in its strong industry orientation and programs in Business Design & Innovation and E-Business which are highly valued by the students and working executives. The Institute has brought out several industry-institute connect initiatives such as We Cafe, HR Showcase and other structured initiatives to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship on the campus by setting up an Innovation Lab, a Prototype lab, a Case Centre and Research Centre to name a few. The Institute has achieved path breaking customized Industry Outreach programs engaging companies like Infosys, Robert Bosch, Bicon, Titan, EnY, DELL to name a few.
WeSchool Bengaluru was awarded 'B-School of the Year' by Bangalore Management Association in 2015.