IIT Bombay’s Techfest 2024, Asia’s largest annual science and technology festival, once again captivated audiences with its scale, innovation, and diversity. Within this grand festival, Tech Connect 2024, a cornerstone event, stood out as a showcase of IIT Bombay’s groundbreaking research and development. Tech Connect has long been a key highlight of Techfest, drawing attention to the Institute’s cutting-edge innovations and its commitment to solving real-world challenges.

Tech Connect 2024: Bridging Academia and Industry

The 28th edition of Tech Connect, held from December 17-19, 2024, spotlighted IIT Bombay’s pivotal role in driving technological advancements. With the theme “Sustainnovative Sentience” the event brought together faculty, students, and industry leaders, fostering a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Inaugurated by Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary DD (R&D) and Chairman of DRDO, alongside Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, Tech Connect featured an engaging opening talk by Dr. Kamat titled “Defense R&D – Challenges and Opportunities.” This keynote set the tone for the event, highlighting innovative technologies developed by DRDO and emphasizing the importance of industry-academia collaborations.

The three-day event showcased an impressive array of IIT Bombay’s R&D achievements through exhibitions, contests, and live demonstrations. Dr. Kamat, along with faculty members, toured the exhibits, offering valuable insights and engaging directly with participants. Tech Connect served as a testament to the Institute’s dedication to addressing societal challenges through research and innovation.

Techfest 2024: Pushing the Boundaries of Science and Technology

Parallel to Tech Connect, Techfest 2024, IIT Bombay’s flagship annual festival, brought together thousands of participants from across the globe from December 17-19, 2024. This year’s festival resonated through a diverse lineup of events, exhibitions, and lectures, celebrating innovation and collaboration.

Day 1: A Grand Beginning

The festival kicked off with a thought-provoking lecture by Mr. Jeet Adani, Director of Adani Airport Holdings, on the future of technology and its implications for India’s growth.

The International Exhibitions enthralled attendees with cutting-edge displays, including:

–  The Unitree G1 humanoid robot, demonstrating robotics’ transformative potential.
–  Innovations from Wehead (USA), NSG Commandos, DRDO, and Bharat Forge Limited.

Day 1 also saw intense action at the International Robowars, with robots battling it out in various categories, showcasing engineering prowess and strategic brilliance.

Day 2: Building Momentum

Day 2 featured engaging workshops, interactive sessions, and exhibitions. Highlights included:

Dr. Velumani Arokiaswamy

A motivational talk by Dr. Velumani Arokiaswamy, creator of Thyrocare, sharing his journey from humble beginnings to entrepreneurial success. He shared his incredible journey from poverty to building a successful diagnostics business, inspiring students to embrace challenges and innovate.

Other sessions included:

–  Sessions by global experts such as Mr. John E. Brian O’Reilly (Lead Scientist at LIGO, Caltech) and Dr. K. Rajalakshmi Menon (DRDO).
–  Continuing exhibitions of the Unitree G1 humanoid robot, finals of Robowars, and the vibrant Techfest Gamers League.

Day 3: A Spectacular Finale

The final day of Techfest 2024 was marked by:

–  Insightful talks by leaders like Mr. N.V. Ramana (Former Chief Justice of India) and Mr. Shukla Bose (Founder, Parikrma Humanity Foundation).
–  A session on space technology by Mr. A. Rajarajan, Director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
–  Entrepreneur Ananya Birla shared her inspiring journey.

The concluding day of Techfest 2024 was a whirlwind of excitement, featuring the grand finale of competitions such as Blixathon, Market Buzz, and Qualcomm VisionX, alongside international exhibitions, engaging tech talks and summits, the Techfest Gamers League, the Drone Show, and the electrifying Technoholix.

Attendees were treated to an exhilarating performance by DJ Robotics from Japan, followed by a mesmerizing laser and drone show that illuminated the night sky.

The day also showcased groundbreaking technologies, including the Unitree G1 humanoid robot from China and the Robo DJ from Japan, offering an awe-inspiring glimpse into the future of robotics and artificial intelligence.

The festivities concluded with a thrilling roadshow of superbikes, dazzling the audience with high-performance displays. The grand finale left participants and spectators alike in awe, providing a spectacular culmination to a festival brimming with innovation, inspiration, and technological wonders.

A Unified Vision: Innovation and Impact

Through Tech Connect and Techfest 2024, IIT Bombay reinforced its stature as a hub for technology and innovation, bridging academia and industry to address pressing global challenges. While Tech Connect highlighted the institute’s R&D excellence, Techfest brought together a diverse audience to celebrate the wonders of science and technology.

Together, these events demonstrated IIT Bombay’s commitment to shaping a future driven by innovation, collaboration, and societal impact.

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