IDE Bootcamp Sparks Innovation at CGC Jhanjeri The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL), in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the Ministry of Education Innovation Cell (MIC), successfully organized a two-day Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship (IDE) Bootcamp at Chandigarh College of Engineering, CGC Jhanjeri, Mohali. This event was designed to develop innovation, design thinking, and entrepreneurial skills among students, teachers, and principals from PM SHRI schools across Haryana and Punjab. Partnering with the Wadhwani Foundation, renowned for promoting entrepreneurship education, the bootcamp saw enthusiastic participation from 211 attendees representing various PM SHRI schools. The event was virtually inaugurated by Prof. T.G. Sitharam, Chairman of AICTE, from the AICTE headquarters, along with Shri Vipin Kumar, Additional Secretary of DoSEL, who joined from Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi. Dr. Abhay Jere, Vice-Chairman of AICTE and Chief Innovation Officer of MIC, highlighted the importance of integrating innovation into education. At the state level, the inauguration was led by Dr. Surender Singh Dahiya, Director of SCERT Chandigarh, Dr. Munish Jindal, Founder & CEO of HoverRobotix, Dr. Sajjan Singh, Principal of Chandigarh College of Engineering, and Dr. Vinay Goel, Executive Director of CGC Jhanjeri. The dignitaries emphasized how entrepreneurial skills can transform education and create real-world impact. Throughout the two-day bootcamp, participants attended a variety of workshops and interactive sessions led by industry experts: 1. Vishal Nair and Aishwarya Aggarwal from the Wadhwani Foundation introduced the fundamentals of innovation and design thinking. 2. Mohit Nara, CEO of Cut Edge Technology Pvt. Ltd., conducted a session on creating startup roadmaps. 3. Dr. Ati Priye, CEO of the Incubation Centre at CGC Jhanjeri, shared insights on turning innovative ideas into actionable projects. 4. Dr. Prachi, Founder and CEO of Remarkable Education Pvt. Ltd., along with Anshika Bansal from IISER Mohali and Hitesh Gulati, a Human Capital Transformation & Change Management Consultant, guided participants on human-centric innovation and developing customer-centric solutions. The bootcamp featured highly interactive workshops with group activities designed to stimulate creativity and problem-solving. Participants explored fundamental business models, conducted preliminary startup calculations, and gained valuable insights into the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem. Key highlights of the IDE Bootcamp included: Human-Centric Innovation: Training on identifying entrepreneurial opportunities and developing customer-centric products and services. Entrepreneurial Roadmaps: Guidance on building and launching student-driven startups. Financial Literacy: Basics of managing finances, budgeting, and understanding the financial dynamics of running a startup. Customer Discovery: Workshops focused on understanding customer needs and behaviors. Funding Opportunities: Insights into grants and funding available for student startups, including tips on creating compelling grant proposals. Pitching Skills: Interactive sessions where participants pitched their ideas to experts, receiving valuable feedback to refine their business concepts. The IDE Bootcamp provided participants with essential tools and knowledge to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and drive positive change in their communities. As part of the Government of India's initiative to promote innovation in schools, the bootcamp offered a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and support available through various government frameworks. The event at CGC Jhanjeri underscored the institution's commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators, enabling them to become catalysts for change and leaders in India's growing startup ecosystem.