April 9, 2025: TechSpark 2.0 infused innovation among school students

The three-day flagship event TechSpark 2.0 was inaugurated on Sunday at the Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), Indore, with an aim to ignite the spirit of innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship among school students of Madhya Pradesh. The event was focused on introducing students from classes 10 to 12 to deep-tech research, scientific exploration, and the startup ecosystem.

The inaugural ceremony began with the lighting of the lamp, followed by an inaugural address from Shri Unmesh D. Malshe, Director of RRCAT and Chairman of AIC RRCAT π-Hub Foundation. He inspired students to embrace scientific thinking and explore how emerging technologies can be harnessed to address real-world problems. “This is not just an exposure programme. Students with promising startup ideas will be hand-held and mentored through the π-Hub incubation ecosystem,” said Shri Malshe.

The event has witnessed the enthusiastic participation of 122 students from 32 schools across Indore and various districts of Madhya Pradesh. More than 130 schools were invited for the programme, and accommodation facilities were arranged at the RRCAT campus for outstation participants.

Group Photo: Mentors & Student Participants of Tech Spark 2.0

Following the inaugural session, the students were introduced to entrepreneurship and the startup ecosystem. They were then divided into groups of six for activity-based learning through mock company formation, with each member assuming various roles.

On April 8th, 2025, leading scientists and Division Heads from RRCAT delivered thematic lectures. These sessions illuminated the real-world applications of cutting-edge technologies and the intricate process of deeptech product development. Interactive discussions with RRCAT scientists further enriched the students' understanding of the institution's groundbreaking research.

On the final day, April 9th, the students experienced the wonders of science firsthand with a visit to the Light Exploratorium. Thereafter, they were introduced to topics such as “intellectual property rights” and the “role of maths and science in building a business.” The program culminated in the highly anticipated TechSpark Elevator Pitch competition, where students, acting as young leaders representing 20 early-stage startup ideas, presented their concepts to a distinguished jury comprising Dr. Ajit Upadhyay (RRCAT), Smt. Jagriti Khanwalkar (RRCAT), and Dr. Anurag Rai (AIC π-Hub Foundation). The jury recognized three exceptional startup ideas for their innovation and potential:

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dr. C. P. Paul emphasized, “TechSpark 2.0 was an immersive, hands-on learning experience designed to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in young minds. The quality and enthusiasm of the ideas presented are truly inspiring. AIC π-Hub is committed to nurturing this talent and will continue to mentor promising teams through our incubation support.”

Ms. Kanika Pawar from Emrald Heights School said, "Being a science student I have learned how I can merge science and latest technological advancement with our entrepreneurial skills for the development and betterment of our country.also I got to know about the real-world challenges in the field of science and technology and how to take meaningful steps to solve the problems with my enterprisinging abilities.  I am thankful to the AIC π-Hub team for arranging such a knowledgeable workshop and guiding the students."

Ms. Ritika from  Choithram School Manik Bagh said, "When I enrolled for the program Tech Spark 2.0, I was very excited about visiting the prestigious institute like RRCAT. During the program I learned a lot about entrepreneurship skills, laser technology and particle accelerators. 

In this program we got the opportunity to create our own company and pitch our  ideas in front of everyone, this was a unique experience for me to showcase my skill in front of such learned scholars, and winning the competition was icing on top for me. I am immensely thankful to RRCAT for such education experience and I am looking forward for more such experiences."

TechSpark 2.0 represents a significant step towards introducing school students to India’s advanced scientific infrastructure and fostering a culture of innovation and job creation from an early age. The program strongly aligns with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, promoting creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking among students. The event is being seen as a significant step towards nurturing India’s next generation of tech leaders and job creators.