Hysea-Maker Space in 18 more Colleges

Hyderabad, Oct 24 (INN): The Hyderabad Software Enterprises Association (HYSEA) and TASK (Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge) are all set to roll-out the full year intervention of the IoT Maker Spaces (Labs to build Prototypes) in 18 more Engineering Colleges affiliated to JNTU informed Ranga Pothula, President of Hysea.

Adding further, Ranga said, a pilot project was successfully implemented in 12 Engineering colleges last year. More than 1500 students participated in the project and 22 products were shortlisted for support and mentorship. Overwhelmed by this response, we want to extend this facility to 18 more engineering colleges, Ranga informed

The project aims to help create Tech Product Startups and Product Startup Ready Engineers.

These Maker Spaces, the labs to build Prototypes will be equipped to build IoT/Smart City products, and a structured year long program towards building market ready technology products, and special internships/placements

The focus of the project is on developing product ideas and product entrepreneurship as it's very crucial to the overall growth of IT industry as a significant number of jobs are going to be created in this space. In a bid to seize this opportunity and bring exposure to the student community, HYSEA and TASK have conceptualized establishing Maker Space on campus when they signed an MOU in last August.

The Maker Spaces are fully equipped labs where students can use the inventory and create product prototypes and innovative solutions. Additionally the Maker Space initiative also includes a structured year-long activity curriculum that has been created by HYSEA and TASK. The activities are focused around IoT technology, product problem ideation, technology workshops, hackathons and product design workshops. The whole activity calendar has been divided into four terms across two semesters, open to students in the 3rd year of engineering in any of TASK registered colleges. These activities will be a combination of events at college level, and college level winning teams participating in a state level final round at Hyderabad. Industry partners recommended by HYSEA will help students accomplish these activities in the colleges. TASK and HYSEA will manage the central events in Hyderabad.

The value for students and colleges is multi-faceted. From getting exposed to contemporary new IoT technology, to workshops on innovative-products' engineering and SmartCity/IoT product markets, to working on projects with extensive industry mentoring, and more. The yearlong project ends with a 5 week summer workshop/Internship Program aimed at product engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship (JNTU-EXCITE). The success of EXCITE Program in fact lead to the launch of Maker Space initiative where structured activities are being conducted round the year on the lines of EXCITE on college campus.

The first edition of EXCITE was conducted year 2015 with 225 students, 75 teams from 25 colleges. It ignited a change in culture with students participating in several hackathons. Solutions of three teams were adopted by Industry including one getting a funding from a German company. The placement track record of the EXCITE 2015 batch has been very encouraging with a significant students getting placed in Product development companies and Startups. A host of companies have appreciated the initiative and have shared their willingness to consider EXCITE students for internships and placements for current and future EXCITE participants.

EXCITE 2016 this year saw participation of 270 students from 30 colleges. In a matter of 4 weeks, 90 product prototypes in Internet of Things and Android were successfully created by students. Some of the product ideas include EmojiPot- a plant sharing emotions based on moisture, Vaccimo - a box for monitoring temp for vaccines, Toy that helps parents to monitor and interact with kids from anywhere, A drip monitoring and alert system, patrolling drone, wearable mosquitoe repellent More than 50 Industry mentors, domain experts, innovators and founders of startups visited and interacted with the participants.

The initiative is actively supported by hyderabadhackers and hyderabad4innovation which involves industry veterans, premiere research and academic institutes and startup eco-system.