K-DISC YOUNG INNOVATORS PROGRAM

K-DISC’s Young Innovators Program (YIP) is set to enter an exciting new chapter with the announcement of the program’s new edition through 2021. Keeping with the true intent of the vision of the program – to expose young students to the cycle of innovation and to promote a culture of Innovation in Kerala, YIP 2021 is designed to create a deeper imprint on the academic system in the state.


YIP 2021 – THE CHALLENGES
THE MAESTRO CHALLENGE
This track would deal with inter-disciplinary issues or problems which require a multi-faceted approach to finding solutions. This track would also include socially relevant issues which may require intervention in the form of a social enterprise. This would target students/teams from higher education institutions – senior category institutions.

Universities, Arts & Science Colleges, Engineering Colleges, Agricultural Colleges and Institutions from the field of Translational, Environmental, Biotechnology, Biomedical streams would be targeted to form groups and teams across disciplines to participate in this track of the Challenge.

However, there won’t be any restrictions for students from schools to participate in this track of the challenge. Institutions/Agencies like IRTC, COSTFORD, Inspiration India, ATREE, and NISH will also be involved in the social enterprise methodology.

Individual participation would be permitted in exceptional cases based on the merit of the problem statement and ingenuity in approach to problem-solving.


THE STAR CHALLENGE
This track is designed with a rigor suited for solving less “wicked”, focused problems and issues, which may not require much interdisciplinary interaction. Students from Schools and Colleges would be encouraged to apply their acquired skills and exposure to enquire into problems of relevance to Kerala as well as critical concerns of the global community. These issues may not cut across multiple domains and candidates working on these would require domain-specific inputs or support. Individual participation is permitted in this track as well, based on the uniqueness of the problem and novelty of the solution attempted.

ELIGIBILITY AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The YIP 2021 Challenge will be open to all students, from every institution, across Kerala. Applicants can apply to be part of the YIP 2021 Challenge in one of the following two ways:
Institution-based Applications
With notifications and direct communications, K-DISC will invite institutions from all over Kerala to apply to be part of the YIP 2021 Challenge. There will be a minimum requirement these institutions will have to meet before they can register for the Challenge.
With the consent of their Heads, interested Institutions will have to register for the YIP 2021 Challenge with at least 2 Teachers or Faculty Members who would be the “FACILITATORS” of the Institution for YIP, if the institution is shortlisted. The institutions could also recommend mentors for the YIP Programme. Further, these institutes will identify and support groups of students to participate in the Challenge.

Eligibility Criteria
Since the Institutions are envisioned to play a crucial facilitating role in the YIP, K-DISC has stipulated a minimum Eligibility Criteria for Institutions:

a. Institute must be registered Institution recognized by the Govt of India, Govt of Kerala.
b. The Heads/Directors/Principals of these Institutions must consent to register for the program.
c. Institution must nominate at least 2 (TWO) Teachers or Faculty members to be the FACILITATORS for the entire duration of YIP 2021 .
d. Institution may nominate mentors for the YIP programme
e. Institution must be able to identify, support and ensure the participation of at least a few students.

Screening & Selection Process
K-DISC will use the following Screening & Selection Criteria for prioritizing the final selected list of YIP 2021 Institutions:

a. NIRF Ranking during the last year – for Institutions of Higher Education
b. NAAC Grade during the last year – for Institutions of Higher Education
c. ARIIA Ranking of institutions on Innovation Achievements during the last year
d. Number of Students enrolled in regular programmes during the last year– for all kinds of Institutions
e. Previous Years’ Results – for different regular courses
f. No of requests originated for Mentor Registration till the time of application

Individual Applications
In cases where the individual is interested in being a part of the YIP 2021 Challenge, but is part of an institution which is not part of the Institutions screened and shortlisted for the Challenge, they may be allowed to register if they are able to obtain the consent of their Head/Principal and the Institute meets the eligibility criteria for the program.

Screening & Selection Process
K-DISC will find the most suitable candidates for the program through a rigorous Screening & Selection process. The selection process is designed with enough rigor to look at the quality and merit of ideas submitted by the applicants. The programme shall be built to check for inquisitiveness, spirit of enquiry, grit and passion which are important pre-requisites for the applicant’s progress and success through the program.
After final submission of their ideas on the digital platform, applicants will be individually and collectively contacted, and even observed closely during interactions, to understand the rationale for their choice of the problem, their rough approach for solving the problem and their passion for the cause.

Click here for further information and registration