The Hindu Business Line : Rs 1-lakh prize for best engineering idea instituted

EXECUTIVE Knowledge Lines (EKL) magazine has announced `Techprop 2006', an engineering project contest to `identify, promote and reward' engineering talents in south India having innovative, demonstrable and commercially viable project ideas.

The project can be interdisciplinary and not necessarily curriculum-based, according to Mr N.T. Nair, Editor, EKL. Team members could be drawn from one department or one college or a combination of more than one department or one college. The project guide need not necessarily be from the respective college/s.

Interdisciplinary projects will come in for special treatment by a committee of technical experts. Engineering students pursuing a degree course in any branch/any semester from AICTE-approved or UGC-recognised universities from States in south India are eligible to apply. Travel expenses by the shortest route (II Class or bus) will be reimbursed to the contestants and their guides.

The winners will get a cash award of Rs 1 lakh, of which 25 per cent will go to the official project guide. Team members can look forward to getting offers of suitable placements with co-sponsor Degree Controls. Winners will also get the EKL-Degree C trophy as well. Other sponsors for the cash awards, consolation prizes and trophies are the Kerala Section of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Aim Insights, Mr Nair said.

Project synopsis with relevant details should be furnished in the prescribed format. There is no application fee involved. The project should be of pure engineering domain and should be innovative; simple to build, operate and maintain; cost-effective; energy-efficient and socially relevant.

Last date for submission of completed application with synopsis is January 20. The successful teams will be announced on January 31.

The projects will be exhibited and awards given away in June. Application form and information brochure are available at www.thermalserver.in/contest.