I nnovation Fest 2018 held from 2-4 December 2018 at Sam Manekshaw Center, New Delhi saw the culmination of two mega innovation programs - Initiative for Research and Innovation in STEM (IRIS) and Make Tomorrow for Innovation Generation (MTIG) focused on research, tech-creation and tinkering.

Initiative for Research and Innovation in STEM (IRIS) encourages young minds in and around the nation to take on scientific research that brings out the best from the country. The public-private partnership program between Deptment of Science & Technology (DST), Intel^® and IUSSTF promotes and nurtures young Indian innovators and recognizes outstanding projects in the field of STEM thereby providing a platform to be at global stage through Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) held in USA every year.

At the three-day event, a total of 78 projects selected from 1500 applications through a two level evaluation process, were showcased by 106 students vying for the IRIS Grand Awards. An expert jury comprising of 25 judges, including members of the IRIS Scientific Review Committee, and external Judges and experts selected the top 20 projects. The winning projects will now be mentored to represent the country as Team-India and compete against young innovators from 80 other countries at ISEF to be held during May 2019 at Phoenix, Arizona, USA.



Another new public-private initiative - Make Tomorrow for Innovation Generation (MTIG) is also a program of Dept of Science & Technology and Intel with Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) as the implementation partner. The program is supported by NITI Aayog - Atal Innovation Mission (AIM). Designed to work with schools, teachers and maker spaces to skill youth on creating indigenous technology based solutions for local communities, the program was initiated with an aim to provide an insight into the making and innovative skills – the skills fast becoming pre-requisite for future generation and backbone of 4th Industrial Revolution. The program reached out to youth from 17 Indian states in a span of 30 days. After a two-tier screening and review process, from a pool of 415 online submissions received, a total of 50 projects were shortlisted for showcasing at the Innovation Fest 2018. An eminent jury of Makers from various Maker labs and expert members of Joint Steering Committee (JSC) reviewed all 50 projects from which 10 projects were selected for award.

Dr. Arabinda Mitra, Scientific Secretary Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to GOI was the chief guest for Inaugural Day of the event. He interacted with students and encouraged them to come up with more indigenous solutions for solving global societal problems. Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, GOI graced the Award ceremony of the FEST and motivated young brigade of budding scientists & technologists to be more dynamic in their approach and develop an innovation ecosystem in the country. Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament from New Delhi constituency and Mr. J. Robert Garverick, Counsellor for Economic Affairs, Environment Science and Technology, US Embassy, Delhi were amongst the other dignitaries present during the award ceremony.