IGNOU calls applications for Best Innovation Award 2024

 The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has called for applications for the ‘Best Innovation Award 2024’. Students who are currently enrolled in the University are eligible to apply for the award nomination. The deadline for submitting entries is October 15.

The annual award of the IGNOU was started in 2018 by the National Centre for Innovation in Distance Education (NCIDE) which is given to the top three student innovators. The application format and award guidelines can be downloaded from the IGNOU Website — ignou.ac.in or accessed at sites.google.com/ignou.ac.in/navrieti/sia-2024.

Students who will win will receive trophies, certificates and cash prizes of Rs 10000, Rs 7000 and Rs 5000 for the top three entries respectively. These shortlisted innovators will gain support and mentorship, including various training opportunities to help them refine their innovations and take them to the next level, claimed the press release.

— The shortlisted students will be required to give a presentation of their innovation, its development process and its working, etc. in a virtual mode.

— After the declaration of the result, the winners will be informed individually as well as through the IGNOU website. No other communication will be done individually with the other applicants, read the official website.

— There are various themes where innovations are accepted including, health care and biomedical devices, agriculture and rural development, food processing and packaging, smart transport and traffic management, and renewable and affordable energy and alternate fuel among other themes.

Interested students will have to visit the official website to know the full list of the themes. These candidates will also get the chance to participate in competitions organized by the Ministry and other Institutions.

National Centre for Innovation in Distance Education (NCIDE) has invited from IGNOU students for Best Innovation Award-2024. Any student of IGNOU with valid registration who has done any kind of innovation in the preferable theme area can submit his/her entry in the prescribed format. The best three innovators will be given certificates, trophies and cash prizes of Rs 10,000, Rs. 7,000 and Rs. 5,000 respectively. The students selected for the Best Innovation Award-2024 will be invited to IGNOU headquarters, Delhi to receive the award.

What are the Theme Areas?

Your innovation may be in any of the following areas :

Health Care and Biomedical Devices

Agriculture and Rural Development

Food Processing and Packaging 

Smart Transport and Traffic Management

Renewable and Affordable Energy and Alternate Fuel Clean and Water Management

Waste Management and Disposal

Technology Based Social Innovations

E-commerce and Business Management

Robotics and Drones including AI and ML

Tour and Travel Management

Social and Environmental Issues

Smart City and Urban Development

Innovation in Education Sector

Innovation to Assist the Persons with Disability

 Any Other Emerging Area of Innovation and Startup Opportunity

Interested and eligible students can visit the official website of IGNOU for detailed information.