Dr Sanjay Chandra, Chief, R&D and SS, Tata Steel talks about #MindOverMatter Innovation Challenge

Tata Steel

10 Jul 201702:20

Summary

TLDRThe 'Mind over Matter' competition is an innovative platform for engineering students to collaborate with industry and academia. Now in its fourth season, it has engaged 40 premier institutes, focusing on third-year students to solve challenging problems identified through rigorous expert assessments. Participants enjoy extensive support, including lab facilities and mentorship. The top three teams receive cash prizes, honors, and a pre-placement offer from Tata Steel. The competition addresses a wide range of issues, from environmental concerns like LD slag to innovative solutions like bio-algae for waste management.

Takeaways

🏆 'Mind over Matter' is an open innovation competition specifically for engineering students.
🤝 The competition aims to promote collaboration between students, corporations, and academia.
🔄 Now in its fourth season, the competition has expanded its reach to 40 premier engineering institutes.
📚 It targets third-year students to solve complex and vexing problems.
🧐 Problems are selected through a rigorous assessment process by internal experts.
🤔 The problems presented are real-world challenges that students can actively work on.
👨‍🔬 Students are provided with guidance and support from researchers and access to lab facilities.
🏆 The top three teams are awarded cash prizes of 75,000 and 50,000, respectively.
💼 Winning team members also receive pre-placement offers from Tata Steel.
🌐 The competition addresses a wide range of problems, from mundane to novel, such as removing phosphorus from LD slag and using bio-algae for waste removal.
📈 The competition has been a successful and inspiring journey, with potential for expansion beyond national boundaries in the future.

Q & A

What is the 'mind over matter' competition?
-The 'mind over matter' competition is an open innovation contest for engineering students within the country, aimed at fostering collaborative work among students, corporations, and academia.
What is the purpose of the competition?
-The purpose of the competition is to encourage third-year students from premier engineering institutes to solve real-world problems that have been identified and refined through a rigorous assessment process by internal experts.
How many seasons of the competition have been held so far?
-This year marks the fourth season of the 'mind over matter' competition.
How many institutes have been reached out to in the competition?
-The competition has reached out to as many as 40 premier engineering institutes.
What kind of support do the students receive during the competition?
-Students receive hand-holding by researchers and have access to all facilities available within the lab and neighboring labs for their projects.
What are the rewards for the first three teams in the competition?
-The first three teams receive cash awards of seventy-five thousand and fifty thousand, respectively, along with other honors.
Do the winning teams receive any additional benefits besides cash awards?
-Yes, members of the first three teams also get a pre-placement offer from Tata Steel.
What is an example of a mundane problem addressed in the competition?
-An example of a mundane problem addressed in the competition is the removal of phosphorus from LD slag.
What is an example of a novel problem addressed in the competition?
-A novel problem addressed in the competition is the use of bio-algae to remove waste from blast furnace water.
How does the competition contribute to the students' future career prospects?
-The competition not only provides students with a platform to showcase their problem-solving skills but also offers them pre-placement opportunities with Tata Steel.
What is the broader impact of the competition on the participating students and the industry?
-The competition fosters innovation and collaboration, potentially leading to solutions that can benefit the industry and provide students with valuable experience and recognition.

Outlines

00:00

🏆 Mind Over Matter: An Innovation Competition

The script introduces 'Mind Over Matter,' an open innovation competition for engineering students in its fourth season. It aims to promote collaboration among students, corporations, and academia. The competition involves 40 premier engineering institutes and third-year students who are tasked with solving complex problems. The problem selection is based on rigorous internal assessments and is supported by researchers and lab facilities. The top three teams receive cash awards and pre-placement offers from Tata Steel, highlighting the competition's significance in fostering innovation and practical problem-solving skills.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Open Innovation Competition

An open innovation competition is a challenge or contest that encourages participants to create new solutions to existing problems. In the context of the video, it is a platform for engineering students to collaborate and innovate. The competition is part of the 'mind over matter' initiative, which aims to foster collaborative work among students, corporates, and academia to solve industry-related problems.

💡Collaborative Work

Collaborative work refers to the process where individuals or groups work together to achieve a common goal. In the video, it is emphasized as a key aspect of the competition, highlighting the importance of teamwork in solving complex problems. The competition involves students from various institutes working together with corporate houses and academicians.

💡Premier Engineering Institutes

Premier engineering institutes are top-tier educational institutions known for their excellence in engineering education and research. The script mentions that the competition has reached out to as many as 40 such institutes, indicating the high level of participation and the prestige associated with the event.

💡Third Year Students

The term 'third year students' refers to undergraduates who are in their third year of study. In the script, these students are specifically targeted to participate in the competition, suggesting that they have gained sufficient knowledge and skills by this stage in their education to tackle the challenges presented.

💡Problem Solving

Problem solving is the process of finding solutions to difficulties or issues. The video's theme revolves around students solving vexing problems presented by the competition. The problems are carefully selected and are meant to be attacked or solved by the participating students, demonstrating their ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios.

💡Internal Experts

Internal experts are individuals within an organization who possess specialized knowledge or skills in a particular area. In the context of the video, these experts are involved in the rigorous assessment process to float up problems that are suitable for the students to solve, ensuring the relevance and difficulty level of the challenges.

💡Hand-Holding

Hand-holding, in this context, refers to the guidance and support provided to the students by researchers and mentors throughout the competition. It signifies the nurturing environment created for the participants to help them navigate the problem-solving process and make the most of the available resources.

💡Cash Medals

Cash medals are monetary rewards given to the winners of a competition. The script mentions that the first three teams receive cash awards of varying amounts, which serves as an incentive for participation and a recognition of their achievements in the competition.

💡Pre-Placement Offer

A pre-placement offer is a job offer made to a student before they have completed their studies. In the video, it is mentioned that members of the top three teams also receive pre-placement offers from Tata Steel, indicating a direct benefit of participating in the competition and showcasing their skills.

💡LD Slag

LD slag refers to the waste material produced during the steelmaking process in a ladle furnace. The script uses the example of removing phosphorus from LD slag to illustrate the range of problems that students are challenged to solve, demonstrating the practical and industry-relevant nature of the competition.

💡Blast Furnace Water

Blast furnace water is related to the water used in the process of smelting iron in a blast furnace. The script mentions the novel challenge of using bio-algae to remove waste from blast furnace water, showcasing the innovative and environmental aspects of the problems tackled in the competition.

Highlights

Mind over Matter is an open innovation competition for engineering students in India, fostering collaboration between students, corporations, and academia.

The competition is in its fourth season this year, having reached out to 40 premier engineering institutes.

Third-year students are selected to solve real-world problems that have been rigorously assessed by internal experts.

Students receive guidance from researchers and have access to all necessary facilities for their projects.

The competition offers cash awards and honors for the top three teams, with the first place receiving 75,000 and the second place receiving 50,000.

Members of the top three teams also receive pre-placement offers from Tata Steel.

Problems tackled in the competition range from mundane, like removing phosphorus from LD slag, to novel challenges like using bio-algae to clean blast furnace water.

The competition has been a remarkable journey that has been observed year after year, with the potential to expand beyond national boundaries next year.

The competition encourages hands-on learning and practical problem-solving skills among students.

Students are provided with support beyond regular working hours to ensure they can fully dedicate themselves to their projects.

The results of the competition are visible and tangible, showcasing the innovative solutions developed by the students.

The competition serves as a platform for students to gain recognition and potentially secure employment opportunities.

The collaboration between academia and industry is a key aspect of the competition, fostering a symbiotic relationship.

The competition promotes the development of innovative solutions to real-world engineering challenges.

The competition encourages interdisciplinary work, bringing together students from various fields of engineering.

The competition provides a unique opportunity for students to work on problems that have a direct impact on industry and society.

The competition has seen a variety of innovative solutions over the years, demonstrating the creativity and ingenuity of the participants.

The competition has a significant impact on the participants' careers, providing them with valuable experience and exposure.

The competition is a testament to the power of open innovation and collaboration in driving technological advancements.