Rourkela: The National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela) showcased its research excellence and innovation capabilities at IInvenTiv 2026, a flagship annual R&D fair organised by the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The event, hosted at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad on April 6–7, brought together premier institutions from across the country to exhibit cutting-edge technologies and indigenous innovations.
Demonstrating its interdisciplinary strengths, NIT Rourkela presented three innovative technologies across key thematic areas, receiving an encouraging response from visitors and experts.
In the Artificial Intelligence category, an “AI-Powered Assistive Robotic System for Children with Autism” was presented by Anup Nandy from the Department of Computer Science & Engineering. The system features an intelligent robot, CARAT (Caregiver Autism Robot with AI-based Technology), designed to assist children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The robot interprets user movements and responds interactively to support the development of social and behavioural skills. It is suitable for deployment in therapy centres, classrooms, and homes, and is protected under an Indian patent.
Under Materials Science, the project “Conductive Creations: 3D Printable Conducting Materials for Electrochemical Applications” highlighted the development of customisable conducting materials that can be coated, written, or 3D printed to produce circuits, sensors, and electronic components. The innovation enables faster, cost-effective, and indigenous manufacturing. Owing to its commercial potential, the research has led to the formation of a startup, Conductive Creations Pvt. Ltd., incubated at FTBI, NIT Rourkela. The team includes Adhidesh S. Kumawat, Singuru Rajesh (PhD scholars), and Disha Verma, Co-Founder of the startup.
Another AI-based innovation, “So-Connect: Recommending Layer-Wise Connections in Social Networks Using SNN-DBSCAN,” was presented by Panthadeep Bhattacharjee from the Department of Computer Science & Engineering. The approach focuses on enhancing social networking by recommending connections based on user interests and engagement patterns, moving beyond traditional methods such as “friends of friends” and geo-tagging.
NIT Rourkela’s participation at the national-level platform underlines its growing role in advancing research translation and contributing to India’s technology-driven ecosystem.
