IIT Roorkee launches design innovation centre to focus on local issues
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee recently launched the Design Innovation Centre (DIC) named (Navonmesh)with a project outlay of Rs. 10 crores. Funded by the ministry of human resource development, the centre aims to address issues of the Himalayan region using locally available resources. Inaugurating the centre, Prof. Ajit K. Chaturvedi, Director-IIT Roorkee said, “The technical/non-technical colleges/ institutes and schools can involve themselves in mentoring and supporting innovation and design activities, to address general issues & issues specific to the Himalayan region. The centre will usher in a new culture among the stakeholders of the state to address the difficulties faced by the common people in their daily life. All infrastructural support will be provided to the centre to make it one of the leading centres”.
The DIC Roorkee will operate in the hub and spoke model in which IIT Roorkee will be the Hub institute with three other premier institutes in the region
NEW DELHI:
acting as spokes namely, National Institute of Technology Uttarakhand (NITUK), Indian Institute of Management, Kashipur (IIM Kashipur) and College of Technology, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUA&T), Pantnagar. The DIC will be headed by Apurbba Kumar Sharma.
The DIC’s objective is to develop innovative designs primarily to address the local issues which need low-cost solutions and to nurture and advance the culture of design and innovation in the region to improve the quality of life.
The DIC aims to produce region-specific products and will support innovative proposals for product development.
Design Innovation Centre, along with its patrons will focus on the specific problems of the region which will benefit the society. The DIC has already identified several products that are going to be developed under its aegis. The center will develop products like ‘green furniture’ using forest wastes.
Another important focus of the center is to develop assistive devices for people with mobility and sensory impairments.