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The innovation hub at IIT-Roorkee is being a given a new push and the institute has set a target of producing 100 entrepreneurs by next year. In addition to that the institute is also planning to shape up an eco-system where its alumni network the world over would mentor and guide students from “ideation to execution.”
As a part of this plan a ‘Tinkering Lab’ was inaugurated by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at the campus on the opening day of the college’s technological festival ‘Cognizance 2016’. Some of the models that were on display were also inspected by the minister.
Pradipta Banerji, Director IIT-Roorkee said,” The Tinkering Lab as the name suggests is a place where students can literally tinker around with ideas, without any fixed agenda or set up, and thus allow their imagination to run riot. And once they have arrived at some shape as to the final output that can be taken further or incubated.”
Banerji in the opening remarks at the festival said that any idea or vision stands on three legs –theory, practice and innovation to which Parrikar added that the fourth leg was the ecosystem for innovation which the government was committed to provide.
Parrikar further added that the Defence Ministry has already set the ball rolling with DRDO and other organizations under it to collaborate with some of the IITs, NITs, IISc and other top institutions in order to tap innovation from academic campuses for design and production.
At the Convocation Hall that once served as the hangar, Parrikar addressed a massive gathering and said that the need is to think “out of the box”. He said,” As students you must contribute to the India’s growth story and come up with innovative ideas. This hall was a hangar during the Second World War and now it is a wonderful Convocation Hall, so you see the spirit of innovation is already here.”
Banerji added by saying,” We have also begun the process to harness our alumni strength which spans from Bombay to Bay Area, and create an ecosystem where they play the role of mentors to these young minds sharing their own success mantras thus serving as role models and also in guiding them.”
Banerji said,” The College has its own legacy and stories to tell and inspire students and with new tinkering lab will add a further push to our goals for continuous innovation. The new lab is spread in 12,000 sq ft and has two floors, housing two auditoriums where students can also hold seminars to discuss new ideas.”
