Latest news with #Designathon
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
K-DISC pitches tech and innovation to help neurodivergent people
KOCHI: As a state with more than seven lakh differently abled people, it is high time Kerala leveraged technology and community participation to create an ecosystem catering to their needs. And that is precisely what the STRIDE (Social Technology and Research for Inclusive Design Excellence) project aims to do. As part of the programme designed by the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), STRIDE Innovation Centres will be set up at engineering colleges under APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and other universities. Another feature will be the setting up of a first-of-its-kind Makerspaces at select BUDS schools operated by Kudumbashree and the local self-government department (LSGD). 'The plan is to create India's first inclusive innovation ecosystem, and specifically, assistive/adaptive technology in 2026,' Robin Tommy, executive director of K-DISC's Social Enterprises and Inclusion (SEI), tells TNIE. 'The project aims to make Kerala a hub for social innovation, with a strong emphasis on community-driven solutions.' Launched in November 2024 on an experimental basis, the project will have four arms -- STRIDE Innovation Centres, STRIDE Makerspaces, STRIDE Hub, and STRIDE Network. 'The initiative envisions to make these neurodivergent individuals self-sufficient. They don't need our empathy or sympathy. What they need is a way to earn a livelihood once they turn 18. They need hand-holding,' he says. Explaining more about STRIDE, Robin says, 'At the innovation centres, the students will be encouraged to come up with designs that help improve the lives of their special needs brethren.' He stresses the innovation happening at these centres will be human-centric. K-DISC had conducted a Designathon, where more than 300 teams from colleges across the country presented their ideas. These ideas were arrived at through interactions with the differently abled persons, he says.
Hans India
28-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
A celebration of design and creativity
Hyderabad: Edtech company Coursevita on Sunday hosted 'Designathon', a one-of-its-kind hackathon event dedicated to designers and creators in Hyderabad. UX/UI design enthusiasts, creators, and editors actively participated in diverse creative challenges in the 12-hour event. Arjun Vinay, founder of Coursevita, said, 'We are proud to host the largest design competition in Hyderabad. This event has brought many design enthusiasts and creators onto one platform. With the advancement of AI, industries and job roles are evolving rapidly. It is heartening to witness so many students and professionals coming together to kickstart a design culture and community from the city of Hyderabad'. Winners were awarded cash prizes of Rs 50,000, and promising candidates were also given the opportunity to join Team Coursevita.
