Henkel Innovation Challenge-6 throws up some innovative ideas

Updated on: Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Faced with the prospect of pitching a product on a platform shared by contestants from the postgraduate IIMs and IITs, enterprising second and third year engineering students Aditya Yadav and Harsh Vardhan Pande decide to play to their strengths and focus on strengthening specifications of the product. And a product of the future it is, seeming at home in the futuristic 2050- which was the year all creative ideas were aimed at. The duo has created an illuminating adhesive product, the prototype of which was presented at the national finals of the Henkel Innovation Challenge-6 (HIC). The product, they say, can glow in the dark and is self recharging, using any light source for replenishment. The product can be applied on a surface and used for illumination. To demonstrate, Aditya and Harsh Vardhan painted a tile of 1X1 ft, with the product which made the objects in the room distinguishable.

The national finals held in Mumbai saw a display of ideas and innovation from across cities with students participating from IIM, IIT, NMIMS and other colleges. Ten teams creatively presented their unique ideas in keeping with the theme this year - ‘Triple the value you create. Create a sustainable world’. “The idea is to gauge the talent pipelines in the country through the event. We refine the ideas that come up and give them a professional touch and a marketing strategy to pitch their product. Students in India compare to the best in the world and stand a good chance at the global finals,” says Ranjan Das, director-HR, Henkel Adhesive Technologies India.

Aditya Yadav, a second year BTech Electronics and Communications student says, “We began working on the project last year and learnt of the Henkel Innovation Challenge and participated. Our product is mainly made of white powders, resin and chemical salt. It is very resistant and can be cheaply manufactured. That we had a ready demonstration of the product is what set us apart at the national level.” For the finals to be held in Shanghai, the duo is working on fine tuning the properties of the product, such that it gives off more light when pressure is applied to it. To explain the vision clearly Aditya says, “The idea is to use the adhesive mix and apply it on roads so they are illuminated in the dark. We want it to become sensitive to pressure so when pressure is applied- for example the weight of traffic on the road- it will give more light.” The call for the competition is sent in September, and the teams are given three months time to prepare. The winning teams of the competition not only win prizes such as a world trip worth 10,000 Euros and mentoring by top Henkel managers, but also bag the glory of the next HIC being hosted in their country.

Henkel Innovation Challenge-6 throws up some innovative ideas

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