New Delhi: vivo has announced strategic partnerships with the Central Institute of Educational Technology-NCERT (CIET-NCERT), IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, and UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) to enhance its flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, vivo Ignite: Technology and Innovation Initiative (T&I Initiative). This program aims to empower students from grades 8–12 by providing them with mentorship, resources, and platforms to develop innovative solutions for societal challenges.
Key Objectives of the Partnership:
The new partnerships aim to enhance the vivo Ignite Initiative by integrating expertise from key institutions:
- CIET-NCERT will expand the program’s reach and accessibility, ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to participate.
- IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation will provide mentorship and guidance to help participants refine and scale their innovations.
- UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) will align the program’s goals with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing its impact on global sustainability efforts.
Geetaj Channana, Head of Corporate Strategy at vivo India, emphasized that collaboration is crucial to fostering innovation among young minds. He stated that by partnering with these institutions, vivo aims to amplify the impact of vivo Ignite, enabling students to develop tech-driven solutions that address real-world problems. He described the initiative as a shared commitment to equipping India’s youth with the necessary tools and guidance to create a sustainable future.
Upcoming Stages of the Initiative
The third edition of vivo Ignite saw participation from students across India, encouraging them to develop solutions in key areas such as Software-Tech Innovations, Agriculture & Climate Change, and Community Development Innovations. Each theme was carefully aligned with the UN SDGs, ensuring that the students’ projects contributed to meaningful global progress.
In the next phase of vivo Ignite, a jury will evaluate entries and shortlist 200 ideas from across the country, selecting 50 from each zone—North, South, East, and West. The zonal winners will then participate in workshops and mentorship sessions, where they will refine their working models and submit detailed project reports.
The Top 10 ideas will advance to the final stage, where students will undergo industry workshops and receive mentorship from IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation. These finalists will present their prototypes at the Grand Finale in June 2025 in New Delhi. The initiative offers scholarships and rewards worth up to Rs. 35,00,000.
Shaping the Future of Innovation
With India emerging as a global hub for technology and innovation, programs like vivo Ignite play a crucial role in nurturing young talent. By encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, the initiative is inspiring students to develop breakthrough ideas and apply technology for meaningful societal impact. Through its strategic partnerships, vivo Ignite is expected to shape the next generation of innovators, driving progress in India’s rapidly evolving tech ecosystem.
Also Read:
