IGNITE 2014 National Innovation Foundation - India

IGNITE 2014
National Innovation Foundation - India announces
the 8^th National Competition for Students' Ideas and Innovations
in association with
Honey Bee Network, SRISTI, CBSE & other partners

National Innovation Foundation - India invites submissions of the creative technological ideas/innovations from the students up to class 12 th for the seventh national competition for children's ideas and innovations - IGNITE 2014.

Last date : August 31, 2014

What is the IGNITE contest?

IGNITE is an annual national competition to harness the creative and innovative spirit of school children. Students are invited to send their original creative technological ideas and innovations for the same.

Why the IGNITE contest?

Creativity among children is almost in-born, every child is creative, degrees may vary, but not the basic manifestation. Then what happens during the growth and maturation? Why should children stop asking basic questions? Why do they agree to do repetitive science projects instead of being original? Why do they learn to live with unsolved social and professional problems? We should not allow our children to live with such problems rather urge them to come up with solutions to these. We want to promote originality, creativity and innovative spirit among our children so that when they become leaders of our society, they ensure an imaginative, inclusive and an innovative future for the country. We want our children to be more sensitive to the problems faced by not just them and their families or neighbours but also other socially disadvantaged sections of the society.

What is invited for the IGNITE contest?

Original creative technological ideas and innovations of the students OR/AND Any technological idea/innovation that solves any daily problem be it household, of porters, labourers, or the like. In addition, during their vacations or otherwise, the students are encouraged to look for other people who come out with innovative machines/devices or solve day to day problems using their creativity. Similarly they are also encouraged to document and learn traditional knowledge practices from their elders in their family and neighbourhood. The purpose is to expose them to the rich traditional heritage we have, facilitating its transfer from generation to generation. The students submitting the maximum number of properly documented entries (Innovations/Traditional Knowledge) to the schools (which would forward them to NIF) or directly to NIF would be given appreciation certificates from NIF. For each innovation/traditional knowledge practice spotted and documented by the student, he/she will be credited as being the 'Scout' for that particular innovation/traditional knowledge in records.

What is the competition period?

The entries will be received till August 31, 2014. All entries received after this date will be considered for IGNITE 15 competition.

Can students of other educational boards (national and state) other than CBSE also participate in the competition?

Yes, students from any educational board can participate in IGNITE competition.

How can the submissions be sent?

The submissions for the contest can be made to us through the following means.
1. Email the details at ignite14@nifindia.org
2.Submit online at http://nif.org.in/ignite/
3. Mail them at the following address (directly/through the Principal)

IGNITE 2014

National Innovation Foundation - India
Satellite Complex, Premchand Nagar Road,
Jodhpur Tekra, Satellite
Ahmedabad - 380 015, Gujarat.

Is there any limit to the number of entries submitted during the competition period?

No.

Can there be groups or only individual submissions?

Students can submit entries in group provided each member of the group contributes significantly to the development of the idea/innovation/project. Groups where teachers/parents are included will not be considered.

Are there any separate awards for individual or groups?

No

Is there any age limit for students?

As the competition is for students upto class 12, the maximum age is expected to be about 17-18 years.

Can only students with science background apply for the competition?

Students from any background arts, commerce etc can participate in the competition.

Is there any particular format for submission of entries?

There is no particular format for submission. However, the following should be clearly mentioned - name, age, class, school name & address, home address & contact number, title of the project/idea/innovation, detailed description, diagrams/sketches/photos if any and a simple declaration that the project has been done by the student himself/herself without guidance from teachers/parents. If required later we may request a declaration from school and/or parents that the project of the student has been unsupervised.

Is a working model required along with the submission?

Not at this stage. If required later we would ourselves let the student know and may even facilitate the development of the prototype/model.

Are any photos/videos/sketches of the idea/innovation/project required?

Yes, if available. These would help our experts to properly understand and evaluate the submission.

How is the evaluation of entries done?

The evaluation of entries is based on the information provided in the entry submitted to us online or hard copy. Click here to see the evaluation process. There will be NO evaluation event (meeting, interview or exhibition) prior to the award function where we will call students with their models and evaluate them. If during our screening, any additional information would be required by us for any promising entry, we would get in touch with the student or school over phone or email hence providing proper contact details is very essential.

When will the awards be announced and given?

The name of the winners will be announced on October 15, 2014. The awards will later be given at his convenience by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. October 15, the birthday of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, is celebrated as Children's Creativity and Innovation Day by NIF.

How many prizes will be given in the competition?

There is no fixed number of awards. It will depend upon the number of quality entries that we receive and which we can recognize in the function.

Is there going to be an exhibition?

Yes, there will be an exhibition of ONLY the awarded projects/ideas/innovations. Working or illustrative models and/or posters in case of ideas would be required for the same.

Will NIF support for travel for the exhibition?

NIF will provide to and from train travel support to the student(s) and one person accompanying the student(s) from the student's home town to Ahmedabad. Local hospitality will be provided by NIF in Ahmedabad. Any other person(s) accompanying the award winner or any other person interested to visit the exhibition would have to bear all their costs (travel/stay/food) themselves.

What type of submissions will NOT be considered?

Simple essays, write-ups on problems like population, corruption, global warming, unemployment etc will not be accepted as well as common projects/concepts (from text books/other make yourself books) like hydel power project, rain water harvesting, water level indicators, vermi compost/ vermiwash, letter box alarm and other alarms, using turbines to generate energy, using solar energy to do various things, electricity generation through waste batteries/dung/transport/waves or earthquake alarm. Projects guided by teachers/parents. Teachers and parents are specifically requested not to be suggestive to the children and let them come up with some creative idea of their own. In case, the teachers or parents have an interesting idea(s) they can send it to us separately.

Who cannot participate in IGNITE competition?

Any student enrolled in any graduation course and above; any other adult innovator irrespective of educational or occupational background; children of staff in NIF, GIANs or colleagues in the Honey Bee Network and their relatives. Teachers or parents of students are also requested not to send their own ideas and innovations through their wards. A declaration from parents & teachers mentioning that the idea/innovation is an original thought of the student would be required.

What kind of support NIF will provide to good ideas/innovations?

All practical and useful ideas/innovations may be given financial and mentoring support. In the deserving cases, patents will be filed in their name at no cost to them. It is also possible that some of the ideas might attract entrepreneurs and these may get licensed for monetary consideration.

Whom to contact in case of any doubt?

Any queries may be addressed to NIF at
Email : ignite14@nifindia.org or
Telephone : +91 79 2673 2456 / 2095
Fax : +91 79 2673 1903 or
Toll Free No. : 1800 233 5555

Last date : August 31, 2014

• - For more information click here.

Source : The Telegraph / nif.org.in