IIT Madras organises social innovation challenge to find and fund ways to manage garbage

Waste management has never been easy for us and the very existence of a garbage island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean tells us where we humans stand. The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) is organizing the second edition of UK India Social Innovation Challenge 2018 to find, fund and support innovative waste management solutions.

The waste management innovation challenge is targeted at students who have a plan, design, project or a start-up in the waste management sector.

Who is organising the innovation challenge?

The UK India Social Entrepreneurship Education Network is the main organiser of the UK India Social Innovation Challenge.

They are in collaboration with the IIT Madras' Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CSIE), the Social Impact Laboratory at the University of Southampton, the open innovation platform Babele, and are being supported by the British Council.

Who can take part in the social innovation challenge?

Any current university student from any year of study or discipline from the UK or India is eligible to engage in this competition.

Students may take part in a team or as an individual.

The innovation project for waste management could be in the idea, prototype or start-up phase.

How to enrol for the waste management innovation challenge:

• The participants are required to fill up a Social Business Model Canvas, the template of which is available on the competition platform
• The project could be in the idea, prototype or start-up phase
• The applications will be evaluated along three metrics: Innovation, Sustainability and Understanding of the problem area

The last date for registration is November 4, 2018

8 REASONS STUDENTS SHOULD TAKE PART IN THIS SOCIAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE:

• The competition has a prize fund of 2900 UKP or Rs. 2,78,075.
• Winners of the challenge will get a chance to get exposure to the various entrepreneurship-related initiatives at IIT Madras through CSIE.
• Students will be able to learn how to position the product or services in such a way that it will be sustainable.
• By the end of the application, students would have learned the key aspects in a Business Model Canvas, they can also seek support from the peers in the network.
• If they already have a business case, they will be able to refine it by receiving suggestions.
• This social innovation challenge to manage waste is a unique opportunity for students to be part of a larger network of students, academicians and mentors from Indian and UK.
• The competition aims to create a vibrant network to promote collaboration and best practice sharing in the field of social entrepreneurship between the UK and India.
• Students are highly encouraged to join the community on the Babele platform as it will make sure participation in a larger knowledge pool and can also familiarise with other projects, join any project as a team member, and participate in the discussions.

Winners of the social innovation challenge will get Rs. 2,78,075.

"Waste management is a great example of a need that a social entrepreneur can fill best. Voluntary efforts can only go so far. I'm delighted to see CSIE enter into this partnership. I'm sure some viable solutions will be forthcoming. Equally importantly, these youngsters will be getting exposure to various facets of social enterprise," says R Nagarajan, Alumni Community Chair Professor, IIT Madras, while speaking on the importance of this innovation challenge.

About IITM:

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) was established in 1959 by the Government of India as an institute of national importance. The activities of the Institute in various fields of technology and science are carried out in 16 academic departments and several advanced interdisciplinary research academic centres.

The institute offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes leading to the BTech, MSc, MBA, MTech, MS, and PhD, degrees in a variety of specialisations. IITM is a residential institute with more than 550 faculty and 9000 students. Students from 18 countries are enrolled here.

IITM fosters an active entrepreneurial culture with strong curricular support and through the IITM Incubation Cell.

IITM has been ranked No.1 among Engineering Institutions in the India Rankings for three consecutive years -- 2016, 2017 and 2018. The Institute was also ranked as the No.2 in the category of Overall Institutions in 2017 and 2018 Rankings, released by the National Institutional Ranking Framework, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India.