Raurkela: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela on Friday inaugurated INNOVISION 2026, its annual techno-management festival, bringing together over 1,300 students from around 50 institutions across Odisha and neighbouring states.
Organised by the Technical Society of the institute’s Student Activity Centre (SAC), the three-day event, being held from November 13 to 15, is themed ‘The Celestial Odyssey – Technology Beyond the Horizon’.
The festival opened with a virtual interaction with Group Captain Angad Pratap, astronaut-designate of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who spoke about India’s space missions, his professional journey and the role of scientific research and technological innovation in strengthening the country’s space programme.
The formal inauguration at the Bhubaneswar Behera Auditorium was attended by NIT Rourkela Director Prof. K. Umamaheshwar Rao, ISRO Senior Scientist Dr. Amitava Mohanty, Registrar Prof. Rohan Dhiman, Dean (Student Welfare) Prof. Rajeev Kumar Panda and other faculty members and officials.
Addressing the gathering, Prof. Rao called upon students to translate academic knowledge into practical solutions to societal challenges, particularly in sustainable energy, drinking water and soil conservation. He also encouraged them to pursue patent development and entrepreneurship, assuring institutional support through the Foundation for Technology and Business Incubation (FTBI).
Dr. Mohanty highlighted emerging opportunities in India’s space sector following the introduction of the Indian Space Policy 2023. He urged students to explore research and entrepreneurial ventures in propulsion systems, satellite technologies and space applications, stressing that meaningful innovation could emerge from solutions to everyday problems without requiring substantial financial investment.
The festival features technical competitions, hackathons, workshops, exhibitions and expert interactions. Major attractions include Deathrace, a robotics obstacle-course challenge, Aeroprix, an aeromodelling contest, Chem-E-Prix, a chemical-powered vehicle competition, Innovathon and Robo Sumo War. Coding, design and entrepreneurship contests, along with guest lectures, cultural programmes and technology demonstrations, are also part of the event.
A special weapons exhibition organised by the 19th Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was also inaugurated by Prof. Rao and other dignitaries. The exhibition showcased weapons and equipment used by security forces, familiarising students with defence technology and operational preparedness.
INNOVISION 2026 will conclude on November 15, providing a platform for students to demonstrate their technical abilities, exchange ideas and explore emerging technological developments.
