Solar-powered race car, reusable sounding rocket, fixed-wing UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) for military surveillance, a CFI Guide Robot, clean energy marine vessels, autonomous underwater vehicles for oceanographic exploration, a Braille book emulator, and sound-scaping spectacles for the auditory-impaired are some of the notable projects developed by students and put on display at the second edition of the annual Research Conclave organized by the Centre for Innovation at the IIT Madras.
The objective was to showcase the cutting-edge technology developed by students to other academics, industry professionals and investors. Further, a ‘Competition Team Demo Day’ was also organized featuring the various prototypes developed by CFI competition teams in the last six months.
The Research Conclave featured an impressive display of 73 projects, presented by 14 technical clubs and 7 competition teams. Over 800 students actively participated in this event, highlighting the widespread involvement and dedication to innovation.
The Research Conclave featured an impressive display of 73 projects, presented by 14 technical clubs and 7 competition teams. Over 800 students actively participated in this event, highlighting the widespread involvement and dedication to innovation.
Applauding the innovations IIT Madras Alum Mr. Ravishankar Shiroor, Co-Founder and COO, Stellapps, an IIT Madras incubated start-up, said, “I am excited to be at the 2023 Research Conclave of CFI @ IITM. It’s the place where some of the brightest students of our country are innovating hands-on on the latest cutting edge of applying technology to solve real life problems. If you want to see first-hand all the latest innovation from the best next-gen entrepreneurs, this is the place to be!”
One of the largest student-run bodies in the country, CFI provides students with access to funding and state-of-the-art facilities including 3D printers, laser cutters and electronics workstations, among other facilities. So far, over 100 patents and many student-led start-ups have originated from CFI in various fields such as AI, robotics, biotechnology, electronics, and various other technology-driven sectors.
Elaborating on the importance of bodies like CFI to nurturing innovation, Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal, Advisor (Innovation and Entrepreneurship), IIT Madras, said, “The research conclave is an important mid-year review of the social and innovative projects at CFI. it is an occasion to showcase the deep research and concepts being explored by the club teams of CFI.”
“CFI is a truly amazing place to be. Every day, I walk in with a smile, knowing I’m surrounded by brilliant minds from our institute who share a deep passion for innovation. The support we receive from CFI is incredible; it provides us with an exceptional environment for work and collaboration with like-minded individuals.”
Suparn Gupta, student, IITM
Highlighting the impact of Research Conclave, Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal added, “This year we are also co-conducting Triumph especially for the competition teams of CFI to showcase their cutting-edge products that have won acclaim at international events through the last couple of months. The response of students, faculty and industry to the showcases has been overwhelming and propels us forward in our journey of excellence.”
Sarthak Saurav, Student Executive Head, CFI-IIT Madras, said that the Research Conclave is expected to create opportunities for students to collaborate with industry professionals and investors. “By showcasing our work, the current students aim to inspire and encourage incoming students to engage in innovative endeavours. This year’s edition boasts participation from a wider range of sectors and domains within the technology field. The number of student teams and members involved in presenting their projects has grown,” he said.
Sharing personal experience on Research conclave, Mr. Suparn Gupta, a 3rd Year Civil Engineering student and Head, 3D printing Club, CFI-IIT Madras, said, “CFI is a truly amazing place to be. Every day, I walk in with a smile, knowing I’m surrounded by brilliant minds from our institute who share a deep passion for innovation. The support we receive from CFI is incredible; it provides us with an exceptional environment for work and collaboration with like-minded individuals.”