Innovation Carnival 2022 Started at Foundation for Technology and Business Incubation (FTBI)-NIT Rourkela

Two-day Innovation Carnival 2022 is today inaugurated in Foundation for Technology and Business Incubation (FTBI) – NIT Rourkela. A total of 30 schools from the city with approx. 200 school kids are showcasing their projects in this carnival. 12 startups from FTBI-NIT Rourkela also exhibiting their commercial product at the event. Prof. Manoj Kumar Mishra, Head of Centre, FTBI welcomed the gathering and gave the opening speech on the history of FTBI along with sharing the achieving and current working status. He told the audience how in 2016 FTBI started with a few students of NIT Rourkela and now it is housed with startup members belonging to a different part of the country. Moving the session forward, Prof. K C Pati (Steering Committee Chairman) of FTBI also interacted with participants and urged them to believe more in experimenting with ideas rather than thinking about its consequences.  Gracing the event on this occasion, Chief Guest, Shri Rajanikanta Panigrahi (General Manager, CSR, Mahanadi Coalfields Limited) congratulated the FTBI team and incubated startups for their achievements and said, “On behalf of MCL, I congratulate FTBI-NITR for giving the platform to talented students. Students should aim to build a product for social cause and come out with universal ideas to create a global impact.”

Welcoming the school students at the inaugural session, Prof. K. Umamaheshawar Rao (Director, NIT Rourkela) said, “Students must know the difference between ‘invention’ and ‘innovation’.  The invention is based on a theory and innovation is using that theory in useful products. Giving different approaches to any concept and converting them into a commodity adding commercial value to it, is what innovators or startups do. So, you can be also one of the innovators, if you work on skills, teamwork, and think differently. Always remember we all are living with a purpose on this planet and that is mostly to serve humanity so we must aim for that.” The end of the inaugural session involved the felicitation of a few FTBI startups by dignitaries and a vote of thanks by Mr. Chiranjibi Samal (CEO of FTBI). The program is being sponsored by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited.

Day one of the event included an ‘Innovation Exhibition’ by school students and an exhibition-cum-sale by startups. The startups’ team also conducted a panel discussion on ‘Technology Innovation”. A workshop on “Entrepreneurship Development” was also organized for helping budding entrepreneurs.  Along with these exhibitions, and workshops, day two of the event will have a ‘Startup Hunt Challenge” in which 8 teams from NIT Rourkela will share their ideas and get rewarded. This 2-day event will conclude on 19th Oct 2022. Currently, FTBI has incubated 60+ startups. It has 12 patents granted and 15 more patents have been filed. It has generated hundreds of jobs and has received Startup India grand of Rs. 2 crores this year. 35+ pre-incubation teams (startups that have started working but have not been incorporated) are also registered with FTBI-NITR.

Details of startups felicitated during the event:

1. Coratia Technologies Pvt. Ltd. – Founded by Devendra Pradhan and Co-founder Biswajit Swain for their significant contribution in the field of Under Water Robotics {Autonomous Under Water Vehicle (AUV) & Remote Operated under Water Vehicle (ROV) for Inspection of Submerged Infrastructures}
2. Yoshino Energy Pvt. Ltd. – Founded by Anurag Mishra and Co-founder Bikram Das for their significant contribution in the field of Manufacturing of Clean, Sustainable and Eco-friendly Electric Bicycles.
3. Koel Fresh Pvt. Ltd. – Founded by Sandhya Naik & Kaveri Kanti Sudha Sarangi for their significant contribution in the field of Sustainable Cold Chain Systems, Renewable Energy Technologies & Waste Management Solutions.
4. Skill Shores RIC Solutions LLP – Founded by Subrat Kumar Rout & Pramod Kumar Rout for their significant contribution in the field of Education & Skill Development using Metaverse Technology (AR/ VR/ XR).
5. Quidle Enterprises LLP – Founded by Saroj Kumar Panda and Co-founder Chitra Rekha Panda for their significant contribution in the field of Urban Gardening Products (Smart & Conventional Selection).
6. MyOrg360 Innovations Pvt. Ltd.- Founded by Biswajeet Kiro and Abhijeet Sahoo for their significant contribution in the field of SAAS (Software As A Service) and Software Development.