Students participating in Young Innovators Program (YIP) 2025, an event for high-school students, hosted by the Students Branding and Relations Cell IIT Kharagpur got a chance to see “atoms” in the state of the art High Resolution Transmission 3electron Microscope Installed at the SATHI (Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute) Center, IIT Kharagpur.
Imagine the excitement of discovering a hidden world right before your eyes! That is exactly how the students of classes 8-12 participating in IIT Kharagpur’s Young Innovators Programme (YIP) 2025 felt when they first peered through a microscope and saw atoms in all their intricate detail. A mixture of awe, wonder, and curiosity filled the room as they realized they were looking at the building blocks of everything around them. It was a moment that not only sparked their scientific imaginations but also brought the wonders of the microscopic world to life.
Recently, IIT Kharagpur conducted the 6th Edition of Young Innovators Program (YIP): A Celebration of Young Minds at IIT Kharagpur organized by the Students Branding and Relations Cell, IIT Kharagpur (SBRC) with immense enthusiasm, showcasing the brilliance and creativity of students from grades VIII to XII worldwide. This event, designed to inspire and cultivate scientific curiosity, drew participants from numerous countries, reaffirming its status as a global platform for innovation. This year the students got an unique opportunity to visit the latest and extremely sophisticated high resolution transmission electron microscope installed at SATHI IIT Kharagpur, where they can expect to see atoms.
Over 3,500 participants from 1,800 schools across diverse regions, including India, Singapore, Denmark, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Spanning three challenging rounds including online submission of project reports in Round 1, prototypes exhibition in Round 2, and a final presentation in Round 3 at IIT Kharagpur, the competition culminated in an exciting final held at the IIT Kharagpur campus from January 10 to January 12, 2025.
The Young Innovators Program (YIP 2025), hosted by IIT Kharagpur, is structured to inspire and nurture innovative thinking among students from Classes 8 to 12. Divided into Junior (Classes 8-10) and Senior (Classes 10-12) categories, the program allows teams of 2-3 students, mentored by a teacher, to showcase their creative ideas through detailed reports, prototypes, and presentations. With rigorous evaluation based on originality, feasibility, and real-life applications, YIP provides students an opportunity to interact with esteemed academicians and researchers.
The Initial Round begins with a submission phase where students presented over 1,200 project abstracts, reflecting innovative solutions across multiple scientific domains. In the Semifinals, top 33 teams were invited to IIT Kharagpur, where they delivered engaging presentations and demonstrated their projects to a panel of experts. The Final Round featured the top 12 teams i.e., 6 each from both the Junior and Senior divisions, who impressed judges with their ingenuity and thorough research during intense presentations and Q&A sessions.
Participants explored cutting-edge topics and themes such as New Generation Transportation; Robotics in Disaster Management; Renewable Energy Innovations; Public Health and Epidemics; Space Exploration Technologies and the Impact of Hardware on Healthcare Efficiency.
Wit Blox, the technical partner for YIP 2025 conducted a robotics workshop on the day of round 2 result declaration in which their robotics kit was provided to the participating teams empowering innovators of all ages to explore programming, electronics and mechanics, empowering innovation through hands-on experience.
The winners of the programme were rewarded by Prof. Amit Patra, Director, IIT Kharagpur
- In the Senior Category:
- Sunbeam 4 from Sunbeam English School, Bhagwanpur, secured first place with their remarkable project in New Generation Transportation.
- Philanthropy Pioneers from Private International English School, United Arab Emirates, were the runners-up with their contributions to Impact of Hardware on Healthcare Efficiency.
- AMPlify from Vasant Valley School turned out to be the second runners-up in the senior division.
- Junior Category:
- Neuronex from Gospel Home School, Rishra, triumphed with their innovative project on Impact of Hardware on Healthcare Efficiency.
- RuralTech from Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, were the first runners-up.
- Aegis from Keystone International School turned out to be the second runner- up in the junior division.
The participating teams visited the SATHI (Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institute) lab in which they were given a workshop regarding atoms and their structure, and were practically shown the structure of the atom through a huge 25-feet microscope at the SATHI lab.
The Sophisticated Analytical and Technical Help Institute (SATHI) at IIT Kharagpur, established by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, provides advanced analytical services in Advanced Materials to industries, academia, MSMEs, and start-ups. The unique facility, located in the Nano-CRF-SATHI building within IIT Kharagpur’s Diamond Jubilee Complex, offers state-of-the-art equipment, including: High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (JEOL JEM ARM 300 F2); Time of Flight – Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (PHI nanoToF III) &Vacuum and Inert Gas Creep Testing System (KAPPA 50 SS-CF). SATHI supports characterization, testing, data generation, and scientific analysis, with plans to expand into consultancy, training, and collaborative initiatives. [For more details, visit http://www.sathi.iitkgp.ac.in/]. Based on collaboration between YIP and SATHI, the students got this absolutely amazing opportunity to visualize atoms.
The closing ceremony was a fitting end to the vibrant event, featuring speeches from esteemed academicians and industry experts. Prof. Rabibrata Mukherjee, Chairman, SATHI & Dean International Relations, of IIT Kharagpur praised the participants for their ingenuity and dedication, encouraging them to continue their journey in innovation and scientific discovery.
Through YIP, participants are encouraged to develop projects, prototypes, or solutions addressing real-world challenges. The Selected teams have the unique privilege of presenting their work at IIT Kharagpur, engaging with leading academicians, researchers, and professionals in an environment that fosters creativity and critical thinking. The program not only recognizes young talent but also nurtures their growth by offering an enriching experience, exposure to cutting-edge research, and mentorship from some of the finest minds in the field. YIP embodies the spirit of innovation and reflects IIT Kharagpur’s commitment to empowering the next generation of thought leaders.
Media Coverage:
| Statesman | Business Standard |
| Devdiscourse | The Week |
| Latestly | DD National |
Times of India
Inputs from: S Praneeth Kumar | Anushika Srivastava | General Secretary, Students’ Branding and Relations Cell & Saksham Sinha, Student Member at Students’ Branding and Relations Cell, IIT Kharagpur
Email: barc@iitkgp.ac.in
Edited By : Poulami Mondal, Digital & Creative Media Executive (Creative Writer)
Email: poulami.mondal@iitkgp.ac.in, media@iitkgp.ac.in, Ph. No.: +91-3222-282007
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