Mumbai, Jan 24: Marwadi University, in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, successfully organized the Young Innovators’ Expo 2026. The event served as a dynamic platform to nurture innovation, creativity, and scientific thinking among school students from the Saurashtra region.
The expo witnessed enthusiastic participation from 269 students representing around 25 schools from Rajkot, Morbi, and Gondal. A total of 140 unique innovation projects were presented and demonstrated by the young innovators, reflecting their curiosity, problem-solving ability, and commitment to addressing real-world challenges.
The Inaugural Ceremony was graced by Mr. Dikshit H. Patel, District Education Officer, and Rajkot, who provided motivational inputs and encouraged students to pursue innovation, research, and scientific inquiry from an early age. University leadership and faculty members were also present to welcome the participants and mentor teachers.
Projects were evaluated by an expert jury based on innovation, creativity, societal relevance, environmental impact, and feasibility. To encourage and recognize outstanding innovations, cash prizes and awards were conferred to the top-performing teams and projects.
Winners of Young Innovators’ Expo 2026
• First Prize: Saket Ganatra and Rohan Pinara, Saint Paul’s School
• Second Prize: Utsav Patel, Saint Paul’s School
• Third Prize: Vishw Jalu and Param Meheta, Dholakiya School
In addition to the top three awards, 10 projects were recognized under Special Category Awards, including: Social Impact, Sustainability & Green Innovation, Grassroot Innovation, Frugal Engineering, Assistive Technology, Digital / Smart Solutions, Use of Recycled or Waste Materials, Conceptual Innovation, Effective Use of Science & Technology, Best Presentation & Communication of Idea
A key highlight of the expo was an expert talk on “Harnessing Technologies Through IPRs” delivered by Mr. Karan Puri, Associate Vice President, Ennoble IP, which introduced students and mentor teachers to the importance of Intellectual Property Rights and patent protection. The Patent Filing Workshop further sensitized participants about converting innovative ideas into protected intellectual assets.
The Valedictory Ceremony was graced by Dr. Sumit Vyas, Project Director, Regional Science Centre, Rajkot, who inspired students to continue their journey of innovation and scientific exploration. The felicitation of winners and participants added a celebratory conclusion to the event.
Young Innovators’ Expo 2026 has emerged as a trend-setting initiative in the Saurashtra–Kutch region, promoting innovation and creativity at the school level. The event strongly aligns with the Vision and Mission of Marwadi University and the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, emphasizing experiential learning and innovation-driven education.
Marwadi University expressed its sincere gratitude to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, for funding and supporting this initiative, enabling the University to extend its innovation ecosystem to school students and strengthen its societal responsibility.
Through this collaborative effort, Marwadi University and DST aim to inspire young minds, nurture grassroots innovation, and build a strong foundation for future scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. The organizes of the event express sincere thanks to Trusty Shri Dhruv Marwadi and DST, Government of India for providing financial and logistic support.