Pioneering Global Innovation for a Sustainable Future

IIT Roorkee, Uttarakhand,21st November 2024: IIT Roorkee, in collaboration with Queen’s University, Canada, recently hosted the first international symposium Innovative Design for Excellence, Affordability, and Sustainability (IDEAS-2024). This landmark event attracted over 150 researchers, academicians, and students from across the globe, including participants from India, Nepal, Canada, South Africa, and the Netherlands. With a focus on fostering innovation and sustainability, the symposium solidified IIT Roorkee’s commitment to advancing design thinking and creating impactful solutions to global challenges.

Mr. Mansukhbhai Prajapati, an acclaimed rural innovator known for Mitti Cool, served as the Chief Guest. Prof. Heidi Ploeg, Chair for Women in Engineering at Queen’s University, graced the event as Guest of Honour, delivering a powerful keynote on the importance of diversity in STEM fields.

IDEAS-2024 brought together leading minds in design and innovation, featuring distinguished speakers such as Dr. Sougata Karmakar from IIT Guwahati, Prof. S.K. Saha from IIT Delhi, and Prof. Khanjan Mehta from Lehigh University, USA. Sessions explored a broad spectrum of topics, from frugal innovation to public policy’s role in resource-constrained societies, reflecting the broad impact of innovative design on sustainable development.

Prof. K.K. Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, highlighted the symposium’s role in shaping the future of global innovation, At IIT Roorkee, we are committed to fostering an innovative ecosystem that not only advances scientific knowledge but also addresses the pressing needs of society. IDEAS-2024 is a testament to our vision of driving sustainable development through global collaboration and innovative solutions. This symposium marks a significant step in realizing our goal of creating technologies that improve lives, particularly in resource-constrained settings.”

The symposium also reinforced IIT Roorkee’s broader vision of engaging in global partnerships to generate research with real-world impact. It included a special panel discussion on Public Policy and Innovation, where experts from academia and industry discussed the transformative role of policy in accelerating design-led solutions for underserved communities.

Reflecting on the event, Prof. Heidi Ploeg praised IIT Roorkee’s inclusive approach, “IIT Roorkee’s focus on diversity and inclusion in research and education is truly commendable. Initiatives like IDEAS-2024 create a platform where innovation thrives through collaboration, making it possible to address critical global challenges together.”

Chief Guest Mr. Mansukhbhai Prajapati shared his inspiring journey of innovation and how platforms like IIT Roorkee are pivotal for nurturing ideas, “Innovation begins with solving problems that impact people’s lives directly. At IDEAS-2024, I see the same spirit of addressing real-world challenges, and I am inspired by the dedication of the researchers and students here. Institutions like IIT Roorkee are playing a key role in driving meaningful change through innovation that benefits society at large.”

With support from the Global Development Office of Queen’s University, NABARD, IMARTICUS, and the Design Innovation Centre at IIT Roorkee, IDEAS-2024 has laid a strong foundation for future joint ventures. IIT Roorkee is poised to continue driving innovation, affordability, and sustainability through cutting-edge research, ensuring long-lasting societal impact and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

Through such initiatives, IIT Roorkee reaffirms its role as a global leader in innovation, consistently working to transform challenges into opportunities for a brighter, more sustainable future.