InnovateTN

InnovateTN.Madurai Innovation Triumphs! ProtoSem Students Shine at ISTE(Indian Society for Technical Education) Tamilnadu Section Annual Polytechnic Students Convention 2025 We're incredibly proud to celebrate the outstanding achievement of our ProtoSem students from InnovateTN Madurai! They recently clinched the first prize at the ISTE Tamilnadu Section Annual Polytechnic Students Convention 2025, held at Arasan Ganesan Polytechnic College, Sivakasi! Their winning project, "Affordable Vehicle for the Disabled Person," showcased their exceptional ingenuity and problem-solving skills. Loknaath L (Web Design) and Gayathri K (EEE) led the team, presenting a practical and impactful solution. Their innovative design focused on accessibility and affordability, demonstrating their commitment to creating inclusive technology. This victory is a powerful testament to the effectiveness of the ProtoSem program in fostering an innovation mindset among students. We believe in empowering the next generation of innovators, and their success demonstrates the real-world impact of our training. In addition to the winning team, a total of 16 ProtoSem students participated in the convention, themed "Shaping the Future of Technical Education: Innovations, Sustainability and Technology," held on February 28, 2025. Their involvement highlights our dedication to providing students with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge technical discussions and challenges. Congratulations to all the participating students! Forge Innovation & Ventures |Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission |Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation Naan Mudhalvan|Directorate of Technical Education |Government of Tamil Nadu | Naan Mudhalvan - TN Skill | AICTE | Guidance Tamil Nadu | Sudha Ramen|Innocent Divya| Sivarajah Ramanathan |Vish Sahasranamam | Dr. B.L.Lakshmi Meera | Dr. Mahesh Veezhinathan | Selva .S J| Ram Kumar S P

ProtoSem 3.3: Get ready to witness the spark of innovation as we launch the third cohort of our Graduate Innovation Engineer Certification (ProtoSem) program at InnovateTN.Salem, GCE Salem! Join us on February 10th, 2024, at 10:30 am for the ProtoSem 3.3 [Cohort 3] Inauguration Ceremony. We're thrilled to welcome Mr. Thirumoorthy Arumugam, Executive Director, Sri Shanmugha College of Engineering & Technology, Salem, and Mr. Velayutham S., Founder & Director of TamiraBot Advanced Engineering Private Ltd., to inspire our students and celebrate the achievements of our ProtoSem 3.2 [Cohort 2] graduates. ProtoSem is a launchpad for future tech leaders! ProtoSem, our Innovation Fellowship, dives deep into the world of Phygital Tech (Hardware First, Digital Plus) where the innovators build from the ground up, combining the tangible world of hardware with the limitless possibilities of digital technologies. This hands-on approach empowers students to: Solve Real-World Problems: Tackle challenges head-on and develop innovative solutions that make a real difference. Master Skills: Gain expertise in cutting-edge technologies, from hardware prototyping to digital integration, giving them a competitive edge in the job market. Become Industry-Ready: Learn from industry experts, experience Agile Methodologies, and grasp Product Management concepts, preparing them for successful careers or entrepreneurial ventures. Build Tangible Solutions: Spend 18 weeks at InnovateTN.Salem, our state-of-the-art lab ecosystem, engineering solutions for the real-world challenges. Join us as we celebrate the next generation of innovators and witness the power of Phygital Tech! #ProtoSem #Innovation #PhygitalTech #InnovateTN #ForgeAcademy #TechEntrepreneurs Forge Innovation & Ventures | StartupTN | Government of Tamil Nadu | Naan Mudhalvan - TN Skill | AICTE | Guidance Tamil Nadu | Government College of Engineering, Salem | Sivarajah Ramanathan | Innocent Divya | Vish Sahasranamam | Dr. B.L.Lakshmi Meera | Dr. Mahesh Veezhinathan | Deepak N. | Charath Chander Natarajan | SABAREESH G |

InnovateTN.Madurai Catalysing Innovation Capable Polytechnic Graduates at InnovateTN Labs: The Launch of the Innovation Camp at Tamil Nadu Polytechnic College! We’re excited to announce the launch of the Innovation Camp at Tamil Nadu Polytechnic College, Madurai one of the state’s most historic institutions. This initiative empowers polytechnic students with innovation competencies, equipping them to become skilled problem-solvers and leaders in innovation. As part of the new Integrated Learning Experience, the camp emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, combining technical expertise with real-world applications. By focusing on systems engineering and product development, students gain critical skills and an entrepreneurial mindset to effectively address global and local challenges. Supported by TANII (Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives), this grassroots program fosters a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Students are guided to conceptualize impactful solutions addressing societal and industrial challenges, creating a talent pipeline to drive sustainable progress in Tamil Nadu. Phase 1: Innovation Camp - InnovateTN. Madurai The first phase at Tamil Nadu Polytechnic College, Madurai, brought together 470 students across 8 departments, forming 90 teams. Equipped with the Forge Innovation Handbook, they’re tackling real-world problems through innovative approaches. Highlighted Projects: Sun Tracking Devices for solar panels to boost energy efficiency. Energy Monitoring Systems to Reduce Carbon Footprints. Affordable Mobility Solutions for individuals with disabilities. Indoor Farming Automation for sustainable agriculture. Autonomous Mobile Robots for warehouse material handling. These projects reflect students’ creativity, ingenuity, and focus on solving complex issues through interdisciplinary approaches. Building a Future-Ready Workforce Innovation Camp is more than a program—it’s a movement to shape Tamil Nadu’s future as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. With mentorship, tools, and opportunities, these young innovators are redefining systems engineering, and creating impactful solutions for society and the economy. Together, let’s celebrate this journey and support these budding innovators! Forge Innovation & Ventures |Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission |Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation| Naan Mudhalvan - TN Skill |Directorate of Technical Education |Government of Tamil Nadu | | AICTE | Guidance Tamil Nadu | Sudha Ramen|Innocent Divya| Sivarajah Ramanathan |Vish Sahasranamam | Dr. B.L.Lakshmi Meera | Dr. Mahesh Veezhinathan | Selva J| Ram Kumar S P| Praveen Kumar M|SABAREESH G|Muheshkumar R|JEYABOOPATHI SETHURAJ|Manikandan R|Hariharasudhan M|Nandalal Parthiban

National Startup Day 2025 – A Call to Startups, Innovators, and Investors in Coimbatore! We are thrilled to host the National Startup Day program on 16th January 2025 at NMIT, Forge.Factory, Coimbatore, in collaboration with Kumaraguru College of Technology and the MoE's Innovation Cell, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Ministry of Education, Government of India. This event is a dynamic platform for startups, student innovators, investors, and mentors to converge and shape the future of entrepreneurship and industrial transformation in Tamil Nadu. ? What’s in Store for You: ?? 25+ student innovators and startups presenting disruptive ideas that redefine industries. ?? 10+ investors and mentors offering insights, funding opportunities, and strategic guidance. ?? Presence of State & Central Government officials, strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem. ?? Masterclasses and office hours to provide startups and innovators with actionable advice and hands-on support to scale their ideas. ?? Pitch Sessions Schedule: ?? 12:00 AM – 1:30 PM ?? 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM ?? 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM This program, part of a national outreach by the Ministry of Education, is happening at 13 locations across India. Forge is proud to lead the Coimbatore edition, creating opportunities for startups to connect with key stakeholders, gain visibility, and build pathways for growth. At Forge, we focus on two key themes shaping the industrial digital age: the platformisation of products and the advent of Phy’gital Twins. By integrating hardware-first, digital-plus technologies, we drive transformation across industrial value chains. Through "Manu’Futuring," we unite academia, industry, and government around the pillars of Talent, Technology, and Ventures to spark innovation. The National Startup Day, by AICTE and the Ministry of Education, aligns perfectly with Forge’s mission. By bringing together students, startups, and industry leaders, this event fosters collaboration and empowers innovators to create scalable solutions that bridge academia, industry, and government, driving the future of India’s industrial transformation. ?? Inaugural Session: ? 10:15 AM, 16th January 2025 ?? NMIT, Forge.Factory, Coimbatore ?? We invite startups, student innovators, investors, and mentors to join us. Be part of a movement that’s transforming ideas into impactful ventures and shaping the future of innovation in India. DM us to confirm your participation or recommend startups, investors, and mentors who can contribute to this mission. Let’s innovate together! #NationalStartupDay #Phy’gitalInnovation #Startups #Investors #Coimbatore #Entrepreneurship #InnovationEngineers #Udyamotsav2025 Vish Sahasranamam Dr. B.L.Lakshmi Meera Abhay Jere Yogesh Brahmankar Sivarajah Ramanathan StartupTN TiE Coimbatore Kumaraguru School of Innovation Kumaraguru College of Liberal Arts and Science Kumaraguru Institute of Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation Institute

Do you know what’s common to Lala Amarnath & Smriti Mandhana, Kapil Dev & Mithali Raj, and Suresh Raina & Harmanpreet Kaur? They all scored India’s first century in Test, ODI, and T20 men’s & women’s cricket respectively, etching their names in cricket history. The first century is super special. Similarly, achieving the first century of iDEX projects managed by a single partner incubator is no less celebratory. Forge4Fauj - Forge’s dedicated program to catalyse technology powered and innovation led transformation of India’s strategic defence and national security sectors, is thrilled to announce this historic milestone—our 100th innovation project onboarded under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative! As a key partner in building and scaling iDEX, Forge has empowered ingenious innovators and ambitious entrepreneurs in developing advanced technologies and technologically innovative products for India’s defence and security forces. Over the years, we have played a pivotal role in establishing iDEX as the largest open innovation platform for India’s national defence and security. With 100 projects and counting, we take immense pride in advancing India’s capabilities in developing and acquiring strategic defence technologies, strengthening the nation’s defence and deterrence systems to align with global best practices. To make this gravity defying upward rise of growing the number of iDEX innovation projects managed by Forge even more special comes the fact that the name of the iDEX Innovator of this 100th project is Dfy Graviti —a name synonymous with pushing the boundaries of space technology to above and beyond world-class. To us it’s more than just a mere coincidence - this is a testament to our vision, commitment and passion to further India’s global standing by harnessing entrepreneurial innovation and venture capital. With deep expertise in Maritime Situational Awareness, Space Situational Awareness, Data Science Solutions, and Strategic Payload Development, Dfy Graviti, along with Bharath Space Collective (BSC), is advancing situational awareness technologies for strategic applications and capabilities. This 100th iDEX project focuses on developing cutting-edge Space Situational Awareness (SSA) tools that have the potential to redefine the future of defence space technologies. This achievement deeply reflects the strategic partnership with and a resounding affirmation of the unwavering support of the Ministry of Defense, Government of India, iDEX - DIO, nodal agencies, and the relentless dedication of our innovators. Their collaboration and commitment have been instrumental in driving the modernisation of India’s defence and security capabilities. As we commemorate this milestone, we look forward with great anticipation to the transformative impact of future startups and innovations in shaping India’s defence and aerospace sectors, solidifying the nation’s position as a global leader in strategic technologies.

InnovateTN Madurai : Catalyzing the Next Frontier of Polytechnic Education We are thrilled to announce the launch of ProtoSem at Tamil Nadu Polytechnic College, Madurai, under the visionary umbrella of InnovateTN. This groundbreaking initiative marks a transformative leap in technical education, setting a new precedent for how learning, innovation, and industry alignment can converge. By embedding an innovation-first mindset, this initiative aims to reimagine polytechnic education, empowering students to become future-ready technocrats equipped to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 and beyond. As the inaugural cohort of ProtoSem, this initiative is more than a learning program—it's a crucible for technological ingenuity. Students will immerse themselves in a project-driven learning ecosystem where academic rigour is seamlessly integrated with industry relevance. Unlike conventional skill development programs, ProtoSem nurtures an innovation-centric learning model. Students will engage with real-world challenges, develop user-centric solutions, and master emerging technologies like IoT, AI, and Robotics, all while being mentored by industry experts and technologists. Through this experiential journey, students will not only sharpen their technical acumen but also hone critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative innovation skills—essential attributes of the modern technocrat. The program aspires to produce a generation of technologists capable of driving the next wave of technological breakthroughs. With Tamil Nadu's bold ambition to become a global innovation powerhouse, ProtoSem stands as a catalytic force, nurturing a pipeline of skilled innovators who can fuel industrial growth and societal progress. This initiative exemplifies the state's commitment to redefining technical education and cultivating a talent pool prepared to lead in the age of disruptive change. We are Glad to have Mr. Ashwin Desai, Vice Chairman,CII - Madurai Zone,&?Managing Director,A&T Video Networks Pvt. Ltd as the Chief Guest for the Inauguration Ceremony This is just the beginning. The journey ahead promises to unlock unbounded potential for students, institutions, and industries alike. Stay tuned as we embark on this path of transformative learning and innovation. Forge Innovation & Ventures |Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission |Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation Naan Mudhalvan|Directorate of Technical Education, Tamil Nadu?|Government of Tamil Nadu | Naan Mudhalvan - TN Skill | AICTE | Guidance Tamil Nadu | Sudha Ramen|Innocent Divya| Sivarajah Ramanathan | Ashwin Desai|Vish Sahasranamam | Dr. B.L.Lakshmi Meera | Dr. Mahesh Veezhinathan | Selva J| Ram Kumar S P

InnovateTN.Salem The concluding session of the Innovation Sprint brought together the entire student fraternity from GCE Salem, fostering a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment. Over 100 student teams, comprising participants from various disciplines and spanning across second-year cohorts, showcased their defined challenge statements and quantified the proposed value of their ideas. Through pretotyping models, these teams demonstrated their innovative concepts to a distinguished Jury Panel, which included Innovation Mentors (Faculty members trained by Forge) from GCE Salem. This initiative provided every student with the unique opportunity to: ? Identify and solve real-world problems. ? Learn and apply the principles of the innovation process. ? Collaborate across disciplines to create impactful solutions. The Jury Panel offered valuable feedback, encouraging students to deepen their research, adopt a more innovative approach, and focus on the practical relevance of their technologies. Their insights emphasized the importance of aligning technical solutions with real-world applications. The journey does not end here for the participating teams. This initiative marks the beginning of an ongoing process where students will continue working together to refine, redefine, and reimagine their innovations, paving the way for transformative ideas and sustainable solutions. Forge Innovation & Ventures | StartupTN | Government of Tamil Nadu | Naan Mudhalvan - TN Skill | AICTE | Guidance Tamil Nadu | Government College of Engineering, Salem | Sivarajah Ramanathan | Innocent Divya | Vish Sahasranamam | Dr. B.L.Lakshmi Meera | Dr. Mahesh Veezhinathan | Deepak N. | Charath Chander Natarajan | SABAREESH G | Khavya Priya | Varsha M | Atheesvaran G |

InnovateTN.Salem The day 4 on innovation sprint headed a session on Pretotyping, which precedes the prototyping stage. This session emphasized the significance and necessity of?pretotyping before moving on to creating prototypes. The phrase "Build the Right Product Before you Build It Right" succinctly highlights the significance of pretotyping. The session highlighted the importance of validating market appeal and actual usage of potential new products, stimulating their core experience with the smallest possible investment of time and money, and collecting data quickly and inexpensively. It encourages teams to critically evaluate the need for developing a pretotype, thus helping them refine the direction of their proposed concepts. Forge Innovation & Ventures | StartupTN | Government of Tamil Nadu | Naan Mudhalvan - TN Skill | AICTE | Guidance Tamil Nadu | Government College of Engineering, Salem | Sivarajah Ramanathan | Innocent Divya | Vish Sahasranamam | Dr. B.L.Lakshmi Meera | Dr. Mahesh Veezhinathan | Deepak N. | Charath Chander Natarajan | SABAREESH G | Khavya Priya | Varsha M | Atheesvaran G |

On the third day of the Innovation Sprint in InnovateTN.Salem, the day began with emphasizing the importance of a value proposition. The session focused on helping student teams define the value of their proposed concepts using the Value Proposition Canvas. This aimed to ensure that the proposed products would effectively address customer pain points Student teams showed tremendous enthusiasm as they meticulously defined and quantified the values in the context of: - Identifying the specific needs and pain points of the target customers and how the value proposition effectively addresses them. - Highlighting what makes their product different from competitors and what sets it apart, known as the Unique Selling Proposition (USP). - Are they focusing on the benefits our product delivers rather than just its features? How do these benefits improve the customer's life or solve their problems? Members of the Forge provided one-on-one mentoring to the teams, this personalized guidance proved in helping teams to view their problem statements from a broader perspective, allowing the student team to refine their problem statements, identifying the potential use cases, target customers and refine their value proposition. Forge Innovation & Ventures | StartupTN | Government of Tamil Nadu | Naan Mudhalvan - TN Skill | AICTE | Guidance Tamil Nadu | Government College of Engineering, Salem | Sivarajah Ramanathan | Innocent Divya | Vish Sahasranamam | Dr. B.L.Lakshmi Meera | Dr. Mahesh Veezhinathan | Deepak N. | Charath Chander Natarajan | SABAREESH G | Khavya Priya | Varsha M | Atheesvaran G |

InnovateTN.Salem Innovation Sprint - Day 2: Translating Problems into Innovation Challenges On the second day of the Innovation Sprint in Salem, the focus was on empowering students to transform their ideas into well-defined solution concepts. Key Sessions: 1. PVCD (Problem Validation & Customer Discovery): This session emphasized the importance of understanding real-world challenges faced by customers and beneficiaries. Students were guided through the process of validating problems by directly engaging with stakeholders to assess their readiness to collaborate on solving the identified challenges. This approach helped students: ? Identify and analyze pain points experienced by different beneficiaries. ? Understand the barriers to adoption from the customers’ perspective. ? Propose innovative solutions that effectively address these barriers. By adopting this customer-centric framework, students were equipped with the tools to design impactful solutions that directly address validated pain points and foster practical adoption. 2. Challenge Brief Development : This session provided a structured approach for students to: ? Identify gaps in existing solutions and explore alternative approaches. ? Outline constraints in usage and deployment scenarios. ? Highlight potential benefits linked to pain points and desired outcomes. The session helped students refine and transform problem statements into strategically aligned challenge briefs within a focused scope. This enabled them to: ? Clearly define the problem from the customer’s perspective. ? Address challenges with a deeper understanding of underlying issues. ? Create pathways to generate measurable value through innovative solutions. Outcomes: Through these sessions, students gained critical insights into: ? The significance of customer and beneficiary pain points. ? Adoption barriers and perspectives of early adopters. ? The process of quantifying and validating problem statements. This structured, hands-on approach enabled participants to build a strong foundation for customer-focused innovation, ensuring their concepts were both relevant and impactful. Forge Innovation & Ventures | StartupTN | Government of Tamil Nadu | Naan Mudhalvan - TN Skill | AICTE | Guidance Tamil Nadu | Government College of Engineering, Salem | Sivarajah Ramanathan | Innocent Divya | Vish Sahasranamam | Dr. B.L.Lakshmi Meera | Dr. Mahesh Veezhinathan | Deepak N. | Charath Chander Natarajan | SABAREESH G | Khavya Priya | Varsha M | Atheesvaran G |