Amrita TBI-TIDE Innovation Contest, a program funded by Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), Government of India, increases the spirit of inter-disciplinary innovation among students. It makes the students well equipped with all pertinent skills sets to solve every day challenges with environmentally friendly techniques and business edge.

This year Amrita TBI innovation challenge attracted 110 applications from all three campuses.  Ideas poured in from environment, energy, water and ICT. As part of the competition, the students were required to fill an application that not only described the working of the innovation,d but also evaluate other factors, viz,. market viability, competitive landscape, SWOT analysis, etc. Originality, practicality, demonstrability, social relevance, scale of impact, and the team’s passion to deliver were the factors they were assessed on. Candidates shortlisted are from various disciplines such as: Computer Science, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics.

Each shortlisted project has to be completed within 6 months and they have to show the working prototype for getting into the winners list. The winners also have the option of starting their own start-ups under TBI mentorship. Each winning team gets Rs.3000 cash award and up to Rs.50,000 seed grant to implement the idea and the top winner gets Rs.5, 00,000 as seed investment to build a start-up. The students shortlisted from Amrita included five teams from Bengaluru campus, two from Coimbatore campus and one from Amritapuri. Their ideas ranged from apps for solving medical conditions to building an electricity free refrigerator.

Amrita TBI Student Brand Ambassador (SBA) program, a new initiative undertaken by Amrita TBI this year, wherein Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham student act as a liaison between Amrita TBI and Amrita students at respective campuses, increased the spirit of innovation contest among students.

SBAs help to spread awareness about Amrita TBI to fellow students, plan and host events and idea lab sessions at campuses, as well as removing fear of entrepreneurship.

List of shortlisted candidates for TIDE Innovation Contest 2014-2015