National Innovation Foundation (NIF) organized the IGNITE-11 award function on November11,2011 at RJMCEI auditorium, IIM, Ahmedabad. Former President of India Bharat Ratna Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam conferred the awards to the winners. IGNITE 11 is the National Competition for students' technological ideas and innovation organised in partnership with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Navodaya Vidyala Samiti, Society for Research and Initiatives in Sustainable Technologies and Institutions (SRISTI) and others. The idea to organise such a competition is to bring out the hidden creativity in the children and make them think beyond their text books.
The contest, which ran from Oct 16, 2010 to September 10, 2011, saw participation of students from 25 states of the country. Over all 4104 entries were received, which ranged from sectors like energy, environment, transport, general household utility items and many even discussed societal problems. The award winners were announced on October 15th , the birth day of children's favorite Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, celebrated as the Children's Innovation Day by NIF.
