Karotimam Innovations Crowned Winner of Tata Steel’s MaterialNEXT 5.0

Woman-Led Start-up from IIT Madras Research Park Secures Top Spot with Eco-Friendly Flexible Strain Sensor

Tata Steel has announced the winners of its flagship open innovation programme, MaterialNEXT 5.0, with Team ‘Karotimam Innovations Pvt. Ltd.’ emerging victorious at the grand finale held in Jamshedpur on May 3, 2024.

JAMSHEDPUR – Tata Steel’s MaterialNEXT 5.0, a premier open innovation programme, concluded its fifth edition with a resounding success, as Team ‘Karotimam Innovations Pvt. Ltd.’ secured the top spot for their groundbreaking solution, ‘Eco-friendly Flexible Strain Sensor.’

The winning team, a woman-led start-up nurtured by Virginia Tech. India from IIT Madras Research Park and incubated at IIITDM Kancheepuram, comprised Dr. Sanal K Mohanan and Mr. Dinesh Kumar, mentored by Dr. Chithra Lekha P.

Their innovative solution earned them a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.

Team ‘PGEC Thermoelectrics’ from JNCASR, Bengaluru, showcased ‘Phonon-Glass electron-crystal-like thermoelectric materials,’ securing the 1st runner-up position and a cash prize of Rs. 2.5 lakh.

The team members, Ms. Vaishali Taneja and Mr. Riddhimoy Pathak, were mentored by Dr. Kanishka Biswas.

Team ‘Miner’ from IIT Madras bagged the 2nd runner-up place and a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh for their innovative ‘Sweat-Free PPE Jacket.’

The grand jury featured esteemed individuals from academia and industry, including Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee, Vice President, Technology and R&D, Tata Steel, and Prof. Anil Kumar Gupta, a Padma Shri awardee and founder of various innovation initiatives.

Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee emphasized the significance of MaterialNEXT in fostering an innovation ecosystem in India, providing a platform for deep-tech startups and innovators to flourish with Tata Steel’s support in technology adoption.

The fifth edition of MaterialNEXT received an impressive 186 innovative ideas from 54 institutions across India, focusing on four technology theme areas: Energy Materials, Sustainable Materials, Advanced Composites, and Functional Materials.

In addition to the cash prizes, the winners and runner-up teams will receive post-event mentorship and grants for further development, while the remaining five teams in the top 8 were awarded a cash prize of Rs 25,000 each for their innovative solutions and ideas.