IIT-Madras launches Second Phase of ‘Carbon Zero Challenge’

The Second Phase of the ‘Carbon Zero Challenge’ was launched at Indian Institute of Technology Madras on last Wednesday. Personalities from academia, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs took part in the event.

The Carbon Zero Challenge is a pioneering initiative by the IIT-Madras and Industrial Waste Management Association (IWMA), in collaboration with the U.S. Consulate General Chennai, Polaris, A Virtusa Company, Shaastra 2018 and Energy Alternatives India (EAI), to identify innovative and indigenous solutions to India’s unique energy problems. This is a small attempt to seek out innovative low carbon energy solutions.

The name 'Carbon Zero' signifies our collective humanitarian goal of reducing dependence on Carbon-based fossil fuels, and minimizing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The main objective of this initiative is to recognize and nurture original solutions and enable them to reach a stage of market scalability.

The challenge has invited students and early stage entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to isolate problems in five thematic areas and develop solutions to the same. The areas chosen are Agriculture, Urban Areas/Cities, Transportation, Industrial Processes and Water and Waste Management.

In Phase One, over 530 teams had submitted a proof-of- concept solution in the form of a video or presentation along with a 2-page abstract. The top 26 teams were shortlisted for the Phase II.

In phase II, teams will be paired with mentors from India and the US, who will guide and motivate them in building a prototype of their idea over a period of 6 months and will also help them prepare a business model. The challenge will culminate in a ‘Demo Day’, which will see attendance by experts from industry and academia.

Prof. Sandipan Bandyopadhyay, Assistant Professor, Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras, familiarised the audience with prototyping process through examples of prototypes and products which he has developed during past years in IIT Madras.