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JAMMU: The Skill, Incubation, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (SIIEDC), University of Jammu, successfully organised ‘MindSpark–2026’ on October 30, 2026, with the objective of fostering scientific temper, stimulating creativity, promoting innovation and cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset among school students.
Organised under the visionary leadership and guidance of Prof. Umesh Rai, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu, the initiative provided an engaging and intellectually stimulating platform for students of Classes IX to XII to conceptualise, develop and showcase innovative ideas and working prototypes addressing contemporary real-world challenges. The programme sought to encourage young minds to translate their creative thinking and scientific understanding into practical, solution-oriented innovations.
Padma Shri Prof. Lalit K. Mangotra graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Appreciating the University of Jammu for providing school students with a meaningful platform to exhibit their creativity, scientific ideas and innovative projects, he underscored the importance of such initiatives in identifying, encouraging and nurturing young talent. He also emphasised the need to promote scientific thinking and innovation-oriented learning among students from an early stage.
The event received an encouraging response, with 110 entries submitted through online registration, of which 53 teams were shortlisted for participation following a systematic evaluation of the submitted proposals. The participating teams presented their innovative projects across four broad thematic domains: Healthcare and Human Well-being; Environment, Agriculture, Water and Energy; Smart Technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Robotics; and Disaster Resilience, Safety, Defence and Education.
The projects were assessed by an expert evaluation panel comprising academicians from different universities. The evaluation was undertaken on five key parameters, namely concept, clarity, knowledge, presentation and application, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of the participants' conceptual understanding, technical proficiency, communication skills and the practical relevance of their proposed solutions.
Beyond the competitive component, the exhibition served as an interactive knowledge-sharing platform, enabling university faculty members, research scholars and students to engage with the young innovators, exchange ideas and appreciate their creativity, scientific aptitude and problem-solving capabilities.
Following the evaluation, Team Synergy Squad from St. Xavier Convent School, Barnai, Jammu, secured the first prize. Team Kritarth Srijan from KC International School, Jammu, bagged the second prize, while Team Saakshi from Dogra Higher Secondary School, Jammu, secured the third prize, respectively.
During the valedictory function, Prof. Alka Sharma, Director, SIIEDC and Convener of the event, appreciated the efforts, creativity, dedication and enthusiasm demonstrated by the participating students. She acknowledged their innovative contributions and commended the collective efforts that contributed to the successful organisation of the programme.
Prof. K.S. Charak highlighted the scope and potential of the projects showcased during the exhibition, particularly emphasising their relevance and alignment with the objectives of the Design Your Degree (DYD) programme. He underscored the significance of encouraging interdisciplinary thinking, practical learning and innovation among students.
Dr. Sandeep Arya, Organising Secretary, presented a comprehensive report documenting the journey of MindSpark–2026, outlining its progression from conceptualisation and inception to its successful culmination. Dr. Harish Chander Dutt, Co-organising Secretary, formally announced the competition results, while Prof. Anil Gupta delivered the vote of thanks. The proceedings of the valedictory function were conducted by Dr. Pallavi Sachdeva.
The successful organisation of MindSpark–2026 reaffirmed the University of Jammu's sustained commitment to strengthening the culture of innovation, promoting experiential and application-oriented learning, identifying and nurturing emerging talent, and encouraging entrepreneurial thinking among young students. The initiative also reflected the University's continued efforts to build an inclusive, dynamic and innovation-driven educational ecosystem by bridging the gap between school-level learning, scientific exploration and practical problem-solving.
