TechTop '09 sees 45 student projects in race

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA: As many as 45 student projects are vying with each other to top TechTop 2009, the All India Engineering Students project competition jointly organized by Degree Controls and supported by Technopark Incubation Centre.

The Thiruvananthapuram Technopark, in association with the Indian arm of the US-based Degree Controls Inc, kick-started the fourth edition of TechTop 2009 today .

Over 222 project applications were received by the organizers from 17 states across the country, of which 45 projects have been shortlisted for the final round by the high-level screening committee. As many as 30 teams from Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are participating in the two-day event.

The competition, conceived by Degree C and actively supported Technopark for spreading the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, also has the support of IEEE and Executive Knowledge Lines. The winners will go back to their colleges with the prestigious Degree C award, the one that offers largest prize money in this class. All projects selected after final screening shall be considered for incubation support from Technopark

Somnath Ghosh, CMD of National Research Development Corporation (NRDC), Govt. of India inaugurated the event at Technopark. TechTop has gained the brand image as one of the most sought after events by engineering students across the country as a platform to showcase their innovations and an opportunity to realize their entrepreneurial dreams.

According to Ghosh, this is the time to accelerate idea to product by encouraging young minds. “They (students) need to know about the availability of many schemes the Indian Government has announced to support aspiring entrepreneurs to fulfill their dreams and to help idea to product. Innovations nurture in a conducive environment and I find Technopark as a suitable environment to promote entrepreneurship through right innovations.”

The award ceremony of TechTop 2009 will take place on August 18 and the Chief Guest A Jayakrishnan, Vice Chancellor, Kerala University, will give away the prizes. Ajay Kumar, Secretary for IT, Kerala, Mervin Alexander, CEO Technopark, Rajesh Nair, Degree C (USA) and Tilak, from Motorola India will attend the award function.

The most innovative, socially relevant and commercially exploitable projects get a cash award of Rs 1 lakh, sponsored by Degree Controls. Cash Awards and Consolation prizes sponsored by other industries are also awarded to other contestants. Other awards that will be given away during this event are KPP Nambiar prize for 'Best Electronics Project' and INGCORE prize for best 'Non-conventional Energy Project'. This year a special prize has been announced for All Girls Team.

“Like the last few years, this year also Technopark will witness the convergence of some great and innovative minds at TechTop 2009. I am proud that we at Technopark are playing host to this event that is today nationally being recognized as a prime event to showcase the budding engineers in the country,” said Mervin Alexander, CEO, Technopark.