About IDEA Lab

AICTE has decided to establish IDEA (Idea Development, Evaluation & Application) Lab in AICTE approved institutions, encouraging students for application of science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) fundamentals towards enhanced hands-on experience, learning by doing and even product visualization. As a common facility embedded in the institution, the IDEA Lab will make engineering graduates more imaginative and creative, besides getting basic training in the 21st century skills like- critical thinking, problem solving, design thinking, collaboration, communication, lifelong learning etc. IDEA Lab can facilitate the students and faculty to "engage, explore, experience, express and excel" as desired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister in the wake of release of National Educational Policy 2020.

Vision of IDEA Lab

To establish and sustain a Centre of Excellence in Technological Education and Research through a holistic approach, integrating all necessary facilities to transform innovative ideas into prototypes. IDEA LAB will foster creative thinking, problem-solving, and interdisciplinary collaboration among students and faculty through hands-on learning and application of STEM principles.

Benefits to Students (UG/PG/Projects/Internship) and staff (FDP/Projects)

For Students (UG/PG/Projects/Internships)

1. Increased Innovation Output: Students can produce 10-15 prototypes per semester and participate in hardware expos conducted by institutes of higher repute.
2. Enhanced Learning: Students can enhance their problem-solving skills and will be encouraged to participate in coding competitions conducted by industry and Academia.
3. Research Publications and Patents: Students can contribute 4-6 research papers and 1-2 design patents per year.
4. Internships: More than 50% of students can secure internships with industry as the internships are made mandatory in the curriculum (4.5 credits).
5. Students’ Final Semester Projects: The final semester of all students consists only of a project (12 credits), making the IDEA Lab a valuable resource for them to work on their projects.

For Staff (FDP/Projects)

1. Professional Development: FDPs and training programs offered by the IDEA Lab enhance teaching methodologies, while exposure to innovative technologies through IDEA Lab initiatives significantly increases student satisfaction and engagement in their courses.
2. Research Funding: Faculty members involved in IDEA Lab projects can receive research funding of more than 50 Lakhs from grants and industry partnerships.
3. Collaborative Projects: Staff can collaborate on 2-3 interdisciplinary projects annually, enhancing their research portfolios.
4. Publication and Patents: Faculty involvement in IDEA Lab projects will result in at least 2 papers and 1 patent published per year.

The IDEA Lab significantly enhances the professional development of both students and faculty. This integration aims to enhance academic and research achievements while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.

Integration of IDEA Lab with existing facilities

Our faculty members are actively involved in research and have received grants from AICTE, DST etc. The IDEA Lab can empower them to expand their research efforts further.

We have introduced a Design Thinking and Innovation (1.5 credits), Skill Oriented Labs like VLSI, Embedded Systems, PLC Lab, Mobile and Industrial Robot Programming Lab, 3D Experience Lab, Python Programming Lab (10 credits) for in our curriculum. The IDEA Lab can enhance this initiative by providing hands-on experience, allowing students to apply learned skills in real-world projects and prototype development.

We have a PCB Lab, so the IDEA Lab can collaborate with it to integrate advanced design and prototyping capabilities, thereby facilitate the rapid development and testing of electronic prototypes. By integrating IDEA Lab with PCB Lab, interdisciplinary projects that require both hardware and software can be carried out by the students.

With support from Institution Innovation Council of our college, the IDEA Lab can help promote start-ups, entrepreneurship, and innovation activities within our community.

Our institute is also connected with professional bodies like IEEE, IETE, and ASME, whose activities can make use of the IDEA Lab's resources for workshops and other collaborative activities.

Alignment with national Initiatives/ Technology Vision 2035/ SDG’s / MSME/Specific cross section of society/ any specialization

The IDEA Lab can play a key role in supporting National initiative: Technology Vision 2035, focusing on Design Thinking and Innovation.

In addition, Skill courses in the area of IoT Chip design, AI, Renewable energy aiming to strengthen India's manufacturing base through innovation-driven clean, green, and lean processes.

Aligned with the SDGs, the IDEA Lab at our institution can promote innovative solutions aimed at addressing societal challenges. The projects extend diverse fields including the Waste management and Innovative Biomedical devices to enhance healthcare delivery. These efforts directly contribute to SDG goals by advancing environmental sustainability and improving public health care.

The MSME Business Incubator in our institution has been sanctioned Rs.30.2 lakhs by the Ministry of MSME in 2024. Through collaborations with the MSMEs, the IDEA Lab can facilitate innovation among local industries. By conducting joint research projects and providing technical expertise, the IDEA Lab supports MSMEs in enhancing productivity. This initiative strengthens the local industrial ecosystem thereby aligning with national objectives of fostering innovation and economic growth through small and medium enterprises.

In addressing needs of specific cross-sections of society, the IDEA Lab can focus on inclusive innovation with projects such as healthcare solutions and sustainable practices to promote social equity and inclusive growth, thereby fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and social responsibility among the faculty and students.

Plan for Sustenance of IDEA Lab beyond two years

1. Long-Term Funding: Establishing a diversified funding model that includes institutional support, industry partnerships, and government grants.
2. Industry Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships with industry leaders through collaborative projects and sponsored research.
3. Integration with Curriculum: Embedding IDEA Lab activities into the academic curriculum by offering credit courses and research internships.
4. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support: Establishing a start-up incubation center within the IDEA Lab to support entrepreneurial ventures emerging from student and faculty innovations.
5. Continuous Research: Encouraging interdisciplinary research initiatives, participation in national and international conferences, and publications.
6. Contribution of Alumni: Alumni who benefited from the IDEA Lab will contribute by mentoring current students to promote innovation.
7. Monitoring and Evaluation: Implementing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the impact of IDEA Lab initiatives on student outcomes, faculty research productivity, and societal benefits.

The above strategies will not only provide valuable insights and networking opportunities but also help sustain the IDEA Lab's activities in our institution.