KOCHI:
From a mask-vending machine to a software that diagnoses Covid-19, youngsters demonstrated an array of innovations today at the country’s first government event to promote technological interventions vis-à-vis the pandemic.
The ‘Innovations Unlocked — Kerala Student Innovators Meet’ by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) proved the quality of talents in countering the spread of the novel coronavirus by mirroring the quality of their activity since the start of a nation-wide lockdown four months ago. The virtual event also selected innovators to groom them as entrepreneurs.
More than 150 models were displayed at the interactive forum which featured 300 participants in the virtual expo KSUM held in association with Wadhwani Foundation that creates jobs for new-age enterprisers and TCS DISQ, an initiative of Tata Consultancy Service Foundation initiative to groom change-makers.
Among other items the students displayed at the pioneering expo were cutting-edge equipment for emergency medical care, crowd control, artificial intelligence-based devices that function by maintaining social distancing, technology to sanitise large spaces against the coronavirus, novel check-up methodology and improvised PPE kits.
Of the 150-plus items demonstrated, 21 were selected by the KSUM following an appraisal. These include products by student groups of various engineering colleges in the state, besides by higher secondary schools in Madappally and Meenangadi of north Malabar. The selected groups become eligible for a three-month pre-incubation programme, with support from leading technological and industrial establishments.
Earlier, State Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr Usha Titus, in her inaugural address, highlighted the need for a revamp of technological education so as to notice up-and-coming talents and groom them. “New crises give rise to inventions,” she said, adding that the government, with KSUM’s cooperation, was ready to help civil engineering students planning to launch startups that are into landscaping.
An ‘Innovation Compendium’ was released. KSUM Chief Executive Officer Dr Saji Gopinath, welcoming the gathering, called upon students and young entrepreneurs to make full use of opportunities thrown by Covid-19 that has altered lifestyles the world over. “We are seeing the return of expatriates with global exposure and work experience,” he noted. “The youth in Kerala should interact with them to ensure good results to their ventures.”
APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Vice Chancellor Dr Rajasree M.S., delivering the keynote, said humanity required ideas and inventions that are of use in the long run. “They must be flexible enough to accommodate the kind of alterations with changing times. As much as software, it is important to develop hardware,” she added. KSUM is the state government’s nodal agency for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities.
