Innovation Festival, first of its kind in West Bengal started today in the premises of Science City, Kolkata. Prof. Santanu Bhattacharya, Director, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences inaugurated the festival in presence of Shri A. S. Manekar, Dy. Director General, National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), other dignitaries and Innovators from across India. The festival, organized by Science City, Kolkata and National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Ahmedabad, provides an opportunity to showcase grassroot innovations from the society which has helped mankind at large.
Shri A. S. Manekar said that ‘Innovation is the key to the growth of a nation. NCSM being the leading science communication organisation, got the responsibility of setting up 55 Innovation Hubs in the country to inculcate the culture of innovation in the society. Eight such hubs have already been functioning in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Guwahati, Bardhman, Calicut and Lucknow. In the meantime, we felt the need of a platform where grassroot innovators could showcase their innovations to the public and hence we started Innovation Festival last year’. Previous Innovation Festivals were held at Delhi, Mumbai, Guwahati and Bangalore. This is the first time, when such festival is taking place in West Bengal.
Shri Arijit Dutta Choudhury, Director, Science City said that ‘It is a platform for the innovators to reach out to the public, youngsters and share their stories arising out of necessities. Visitors will get an opportunity to interact, develop out of the box thinking and scientific temper’.
Twenty five innovators from National Innovation Foundation (NIF), Indian Institute of Engineering Technology (IIEST) and different parts of the state are participating in this festival. Neck immobilizer, adjustable walker, crutch with shock absorbers, emoinu stove, low cost wind mill, bamboo splint making machine, modified walker with adjustable leg, electronic LPG optimum burning system, guava bending technology are among the few innovations on display. The innovators also shared how they overcame the odds and created something beneficial for the society troubleshooting the basic problems.
Interactive displays from Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Research and Training Laboratory (CRTL), Science City and Birla Industrial and Technological Museum (BITM) grabbed the visitors attention while experts threw light on nurturing creativity among ourselves. A workshop pavilion by Science City had hands-on-demonstration and do-it-yourself activity on Mini Tesla Coil, Microphone, speaker, wireless electricity, electric generator etc.
The festival will continue till February 7, 2016 near Maritime Centre of the Science City premises. Entry to the festival shall remain free.
February 5, 2016
Science City, Kolkata
