Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Indian Institute of Technology Indore has initiated new academic programme with launch of first Bachelor of Design batch of the School of Innovation— a dedicated academic and research programme committed to advancing interdisciplinary innovation, entrepreneurship and design thinking.

The event was presided over by Prof Anil Kumar Gupta, scholar of Grassroots Innovation and former Professor at IIM Ahmedabad, in the presence of Prof Suhas Joshi, director, IIT Indore. The event witnessed participation from senior faculty members, industry leaders, student innovators and staff of the institute.

In his keynote address, Gupta underscored the urgent need to empower youth through inclusive, contextually grounded, and sustainable innovation. He stressed the importance of addressing critical challenges such as waste reduction, frugal engineering, deep technology, and sustainable development.

Praising IIT Indore’s initiative, he emphasised that Institutionalising innovation, as a core academic pursuit is a bold and timely step and said that the School of Innovation will become a crucible for creative, real-world problem-solving.

Sharing the vision behind the initiative, Joshi stated, “The School of Innovation is more than just a new academic unit, it is a mindset shift. It is a space where ideas will be nurtured into impactful solutions, where disciplinary boundaries will dissolve, and where innovation will drive societal change. This School reflects IIT Indore’s commitment to shaping the future of education and entrepreneurship in India.”

The four-year full-time BDes programme offers specialisations in Urban System Innovation, Educational Technologies, Healthcare Systems, and Sustainable Energy Systems.

Furthermore, the School of Innovation will serve as a dynamic platform offering academic programmes, hands-on workshops, start-up incubation support, and design-centric project opportunities. It will actively promote collaborations with national and international institutions through hackathons, design sprints, and innovation challenges.