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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Science
- Business Standard
STRIDE Innovation Summit Boosts Disability-Friendly Tech; Eight College Teams Honoured
PNN Kochi (Kerala) [India], August 8: The STRIDE Inclusive Innovation Summit, held in Kochi on the 4th of August 2025 and organised by the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), concluded with honours awarded to eight engineering college teams for their outstanding innovations designed to enhance the lives of differently-abled individuals. The recognised institutions included Vishwajyothi College of Engineering and Technology in Ernakulam, NSS College of Engineering in Palakkad, College of Engineering in Vadakara, St. Gits College of Engineering in Kottayam, Vidya Academy of Science and Technology in Thrissur, TKM College of Engineering in Kollam and Sahrudaya College of Engineering and Technology in Thrissur. The awards were distributed at the summit's closing ceremony, which celebrated youth-driven innovation with social impact. Inaugurating the event, Social Justice Minister Dr. R. Bindu highlighted the potential of inclusive technology to empower individuals with disabilities and make daily tasks more accessible. She said that many differently-abled persons continue to struggle with basic routines and lauded STRIDE for demonstrating how thoughtful innovation can ease these challenges. A major focus of the summit was the presentation of STRIDE's broader vision, to make Kerala India's first inclusive innovation state. The initiative seeks to create a compassionate, sustainable economy by addressing the real-world challenges of vulnerable populations, including the elderly, those in palliative care, the financially disadvantaged and especially persons with intellectual disabilities. Through a multi-sectoral approach, STRIDE (Social Technology and Research for Design Excellence) is developing a comprehensive ecosystem that encourages social innovation. The model integrates government departments, community organisations, academic institutions, and technology partners to work collaboratively on inclusive solutions. Government departments such as Social Justice, Health, Local Self-Government and Education are actively involved in the mission. Community participation is led by Kudumbashree, with support from NGOs, industries and CSR initiatives. On the academic front, engineering and design colleges, polytechnics and psychology departments are being engaged to align student research and projects with real-world social needs. The technology community, particularly IEEE, plays a vital role in mentoring and guiding these innovations. Local Self-Government Minister M.B. Rajesh, speaking at the summit, announced the launch of the STRIDE Makerstudios and reaffirmed Kerala's goal of becoming a national leader in inclusive innovation. He said STRIDE and Kudumbashree are working closely with persons with physical and mental challenges to co-create universally accessible solutions and Kudumbashree has set aside about ₹1 crore this year for establishing Maker Studios. Dr. P.V. Unnikrishnan, Member Secretary of K-DISC, noted that the initiative is built on a co-production model where people with disabilities are directly involved in developing technologies that address their needs. Robin Tommy, Executive Director of K-DISC, added that the aim is to simplify lives through Collaboration, co-creation, design and social innovation. STRIDE's approach also incorporates a circular, sustainable economy by encouraging communities to manufacture assistive and adaptive devices. These low-tech innovations, produced using 3D printing and fabrication technologies, will be created in community hubs such as BUDS institutions and NGOs. The devices not only enhance independence and quality of life for users but also offer income-generating opportunities, promoting a social enterprise-driven gig economy within the state. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with DC School of Architecture and Design to support the design and establishment of STRIDE Maker Studios, which was followed by the presentation of the Designathon awards. The speakers at the summit included; Radhamani Pillai, Chairperson of Thrikkakara Municipality, presided over the function. Also present were Manoj Moothedan, President of the Ernakulam District Panchayat; Dr. Arun S. Nair, Director of the Social Justice Department; Dr. B. Sreejith, Kudumbashree State Programme Officer; Dr. George Sleeba, Executive Director of the K. Chittilappally Foundation; Dinesh P. Thampi, Vice President and Head of Delivery Center at TCS; Dr. Mini Ulanat, former Chair of IEEE Kerala Section; Dr. Manoj B.S., current Chair of IEEE Kerala Section and independent product strategy consultant Arun Jacob. The summit was held in collaboration with IEEE Kerala Section, Kudumbashree, Kerala Startup Mission, and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU), and served as a milestone in Kerala's journey toward a truly inclusive and innovation-driven society. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
K-DISC peer mentors to guide 50k students for getting jobs
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Remember that friend who taught you everything at the last minute before the exam? Now think of having the same friend guiding you to get a job, by mentoring you through job-oriented online courses. That is what K-DISC (Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council) is planning through its new venture, 'Learners' Fest', which aims to aid close to 50,000 students by September. Under the Vijnana Keralam initiative, K-DISC, the advisory body of the state government, will be providing nearly 250 online courses in 40 developing and highly employable domains from platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn, free of cost. The domains span from finance and marketing to artificial intelligence and machine learning. The courses have been designed into job-specific learning paths for willing students, who will be helped by selected student ambassadors who will work as mentors. These mentors, selected from colleges of different streams, including engineering, polytechnic, arts and science institutes, will be given training to help other students of their college. Peer-to-peer learning is a student-driven approach which will be more effective for skill-based activities,' said P M Riyas, K-DISC executive director for skills, employment and entrepreneurship, adding that the practice may cater to the aptitudes of more students. 'Over 2,000 campus ambassadors have already been trained as part of the project. Selected students who are willing to mentor their peer groups will be undergoing an induction programme,' he said. Other students from the colleges can register themselves in the 'Digital Workforce Management System' portal on the K-DISC's official website. Participants will have to go through these courses, which will be backed by weekly peer learning sessions led by these mentors. Multiple courses will be integrated into each learning path, which have been designed to support students to fare well in the selection procedure for over 270 jobs. The induction programme for student ambassadors in 10 districts of the state has been completed, with only Wayanad, Idukki, Kannur and Kasaragod remaining. FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE
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.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Blood bank traceability application on the anvil
The Health department is readying a centralised software application, Blood Bank Traceability Application, which will give real time information on the safe and matching blood units available across the State. A portal is also being created for the public to provide accurate information on the availability of blood across all blood banks in the State and this is expected to be functional by the end of the year, a statement issued by the Health department said. The project is being implemented by K-DISC, Kerala State AIDS Control Society, State Blood Transfusion Council and e-Health, in coordination with the Health department In the coming years, the State's aim will be to achieve 100% voluntary blood donation The blood bank traceability application is a centralised software platform linking all blood banks in the State. Efforts are on to link private blood banks also on to this platform The State hopes that this facility will ensure that the available blood units across Kerala would be visible to all on the same platform so that safe blood is accessible to all. The blood bank traceability application will be operational on an experimental basis at General Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. The application will be scaled up across the State later in the year
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Kerala govt to launch software to track blood banks
T'puram: Health minister Veena George announced the launch of 'Blood Bank Traceability Application' – a centralized software to provide real-time information on the availability of safe and suitable blood units across the state. As part of this initiative, a portal is being developed to allow the public to accurately check blood availability. The govt aims to make this portal accessible to the public by the end of the year. Once operational, information from blood banks will be readily available from anywhere, the minister said in a statement. To ensure the availability of blood, blood storage units or blood banks have been set up at all hospitals with maternity services, starting from community health centres. An advanced digital blood bag traceability system was implemented to monitor blood from collection to transfusion, while Kerala Rare Blood Donor Registry was launched for rare blood types. This is in addition to the new traceability software. The project is being implemented under the leadership of the health department, in collaboration with K-DISC, Kerala State AIDS Control Society, Blood Transfusion Council, and e-Health. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The goal is to achieve 100% voluntary blood donation in the coming years. The new application is a centralised software platform that connects all blood banks. Efforts have begun to integrate private blood banks into this software, in addition to those at the govt level. This initiative will help visualise the available blood in Kerala on a single platform and ensure uniform safety and care for everyone. The blood bank traceability application project will begin on a trial basis at the Thiruvananthapuram general hospital this month, with the aim of implementing it statewide within the year. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
