Chennai, March 1: From air-quality-guided travel apps to cow-dung-based construction materials, the national research expo IINvenTiv 2025 is showcasing groundbreaking innovations designed to address sustainability, health, agriculture, and industrial challenges. Hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, this third edition of the flagship expo, organized by the Ministry of Education, features 185 projects from prestigious institutes including IITs, NITs, IISc Bengaluru, and IISERs.
HealthyRoute: Navigating Healthier Paths
One notable innovation presented by IIT Hyderabad is "HealthyRoute", a novel navigation app integrating real-time air quality data with traffic conditions. According to Antara Roy from IIT Hyderabad, traditional apps typically emphasize speed and efficiency, neglecting health implications from poor air quality. "HealthyRoute" uniquely addresses this gap, guiding commuters towards less polluted routes while minimizing congestion.Avibot: Revolutionizing Poultry Automation
Highlighting advancements in agriculture automation, NIT Kerala unveiled "Avibot", an intelligent robotic system engineered for egg collection in poultry farms. The bot utilizes advanced vision systems, precise locomotion, and a specialized gripping mechanism to safely harvest eggs, significantly enhancing productivity while reducing human exposure to hazardous conditions.Sustainable Construction with Cow-Dung Foaming Agents
Promoting sustainability, IIT Indore displayed "GOBAiR", a novel cow-dung-based foaming agent aimed at creating lightweight, eco-friendly construction materials. The innovation offers a sustainable alternative to conventional materials, combining environmental consciousness with construction efficiency.Bamboo Bottles: Eco-Friendly Packaging Solution
Addressing plastic pollution, NIT Silchar has developed a manual system for mass-producing bottles using bamboo powder. Dr Bipul Das from NIT Silchar emphasized that despite bamboo's environmental advantages, scalability and durability have remained challenging. Their innovation facilitates efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective production methods, aiming to replace environmentally harmful plastic bottles.Bridging Academia and Industry
V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, highlighted the event’s emphasis on technologies with high Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), ready for immediate commercialization. Kamakoti explained, "IINvenTiv aims to boost industry awareness and foster robust academia-industry collaborations, facilitating swift technology transfer."He added that this year’s event includes exhibits not only from IITs and NITs but also top-ranking engineering institutes within India's top 50 in the NIRF rankings, alongside significant participation from startups born from institutional research.
Innovation Highlights from Across India
The event also displayed cutting-edge advancements in several thematic areas, including:- Artificial Intelligence and Robotics: IIT Madras presented RoBuoy, an autonomous underwater glider, and a versatile robotic research platform capable of walking and grasping. IIT Kanpur exhibited an advanced quadcopter drone featuring AI-enabled precision grippers for industrial and defence applications.
- Biotechnology: SRM University showcased sustainable biosurfactants derived from biowaste and glucose, as well as microbial pigments with antimicrobial and anti-cancer properties. Meanwhile, NIT Arunachal Pradesh exhibited herbal skincare innovations, including antibacterial moisturisers and turmeric-based lip balms.
- AI for Indian Languages: IIT Gandhinagar’s Lingo Lab unveiled Ganga, an AI language model similar to ChatGPT, currently available in Hindi and English, with Tamil and Telugu versions underway.
- Water Safety and Carbon Capture: IISER Kolkata demonstrated a real-time water toxin detection chip, while NIT Trichy introduced an innovative carbon dioxide-to-methanol conversion technology, showcasing impressive 16% single-pass efficiency.
- Healthcare Innovations: IIT Madras incubated Hemosync, a non-invasive haemoglobin and vital monitoring device. Another notable healthcare breakthrough was an edible, real-time breath sensor crafted from rice starch, aloe vera, and ginger.
- Sustainable Construction Solutions: IIT Bombay featured polymer composite coatings developed from industrial waste, enhancing soundproofing, thermal insulation, and corrosion resistance.
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