Innovation- The theme for TechTop-2009

Thirty innovative products, including an automatic solar panel guide system, a punching station and a surveillance robot to detect bombs, are vying for top honours at the “TechTop-2009″, a two-day engineering event started here Monday.

The exhibition, being organised by Technopark in association with the Indian arm of the US-based Degree Controls Inc, is a platform for engineering students across the country to showcase their innovations.

Thirty products have been shortlisted from 222 applications from 17 engineering colleges in the country for the fourth edition of TechTop.

Somenath Ghosh, chairman and managing director of National Research Development Corp (NRDC), inaugurated the exhibition on the Technopark campus.

“Innovations nurture in a conducive environment and I find Technopark as a suitable environment to promote entrepreneurship through right innovations,” said Ghosh.

The most innovative, socially relevant and commercially exploitable projects will get a cash award of Rs.100,000.

Added Technopark chief executive Mervin Alexander: “Like the last few years, this year also Technopark saw the convergence of some great and innovative minds.”

“I am proud that we at Technopark are playing host to this event that is nationally being recognized as a prime event to showcase the budding engineers in the country,” he added.