School led innovation takes centre stage through Young Innovators’ Expo 2026 at Marwadi University

Dikshit H. Patel, District Education Officer Rajkot, and Dr. Sumit Vyas, Project Director at the Regional Science Centre Rajkot, address students on early engagement with science and innovation

School level innovation and scientific thinking were brought into focus during Young Innovators’ Expo 2026, organised at Marwadi University in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The initiative aimed to encourage curiosity, problem solving, and early exposure to applied science among students from the Saurashtra region.
The expo saw participation from 269 students representing approximately 25 schools across Rajkot, Morbi, and Gondal. A total of 140 student-led innovation projects were presented, covering themes such as social impact, sustainability, assistive technology, frugal engineering, and digital solutions. Projects were assessed by an expert jury on parameters including originality, societal relevance, feasibility, and environmental impact.

The inaugural session featured Dikshit H. Patel, District Education Officer, Rajkot, who encouraged students to pursue scientific inquiry and innovation from an early age. Faculty members and university leadership engaged with participating students and mentor teachers, offering guidance and feedback on project development.
An important component of the programme was an expert session on intellectual property awareness. Karan Puri, Associate Vice President at Ennoble IP, delivered a talk on the role of intellectual property rights in protecting innovation. This was followed by a patent filing workshop aimed at familiarising students and educators with the fundamentals of converting ideas into protected intellectual assets.

The expo concluded with a valedictory address by Dr. Sumit Vyas, Project Director at the Regional Science Centre, Rajkot, who spoke on the importance of sustained engagement with science and research. Winners across multiple categories were recognised with awards and cash prizes, alongside special category recognitions covering areas such as sustainability, grassroots innovation, and effective communication of ideas.

Aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy 2020, the Young Innovators’ Expo 2026 reflects Marwadi University’s focus on experiential learning and community engagement. The university acknowledged the support of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, for enabling the extension of its innovation ecosystem to school students across the region.

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