YIP 2020-2023

K-DISC’s Young Innovators Programme (YIP) is set to enter an exciting new chapter with the announcement of the program’s second edition through 2020. Keeping with the true intent of the vision of the program – to expose young students to the cycle of innovation and to promote a culture of Innovation in Kerala, YIP 2020 is designed to create a deeper imprint on the academic system in the state.

In short, YIP 2020 is structured around a philosophy of situated cognition and design-based learning, and is envisioned to be a massive, open, inclusive, collaborative, institution-based program aimed at identifying and nurturing young innovators. The overall design and structure of the YIP 2020 has evolved from the following underlying strategies, and the learning gained from the program’s maiden cycle last year.

1. To prepare the next generation of youth of Kerala for the 4th Industrial Revolution and helping them apply Industry 4.0 related skills in addressing Kerala’s developmental issues
To imbibe the next Industrial Revolution skills and apply them within an overarching framework of design thinking for applying acquired Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematic (STEAM) skills in order to solve open questions, and hard “wicked” problems, complex challenges, overcome local and hyperlocal developmental issues. The future of Kerala is bright and exciting, replete with formidable challenges and opportunities.
YIP 2020 is designed to equip, nurture and develop, in these young innovators, the requisite skills and tools that will be imperative to secure a vibrant future for Kerala.

2. To build a conducive Innovation Ecosystem.
Innovation is the resulting interplay of industry, research, academia and civil society and needs a conducive environment for ideation, design and application.
An institution-based approach shall be followed, where Industry, Research Practitioners, Teachers and Professionals are actively involved end-to-end in adopting and inculcating the process of innovation systemically. The emphasis on mentorship and interactions with domain experts and professionals through Communities of Practices (CoPs) are also meant to establish exciting spaces for innovators with sustained support for problem solving.

3. To promote diversity, inclusion and collaboration.
Diversity and Inclusion are proven drivers of Innovation – enabling out-of-the-box thinking and bringing together multiple perspectives and skills.
Collaboration is also key to driving Innovation, and YIP Challenge 2020 will try and encourage collaboration amongst the innovators through team or group-based participation. Nevertheless, individual entries shall also be screened for consideration based on the ingenuity and exceptional quality of submitted ideas. Every individual who is passionate about an idea will be given the opportunity to explore them. Grit and passion, the spirit of enquiry and inquisitiveness of the individuals as well as the teams will be critical attributes for assessment.

The YIP 2019 Challenge will be open to all students, from every institution, across Kerala. Applicants can apply to be part of the YIP 2019 Challenge in one of the following two ways:

1.1. Institution-based Applications
With notifications and direct communications, K-DISC will invite institutions from all over Kerala to apply to be part of the YIP 2020 Challenge. There will be a minimum requirement these institutions will have to meet before they can register for the Challenge.
With the consent of their Heads, interested Institutions will have to register for the YIP 2020 Challenge with at least 2 Teachers or Faculty Members who would be the “FACILITATORS” of the Institution for YIP, if the institution is shortlisted. The institutions could also recommend mentors for the YIP Programme. Further, these institutes will identify and support groups of students to participate in the Challenge.

1.2. Individual Applications
In cases where the individual is interested in being a part of the YIP 2020 Challenge, but is part of an institution which is not part of the Institutions screened and shortlisted for the Challenge, they may be allowed to register if they are able to to obtain the consent of their Head/Principal and the Institute meets the eligibility criteria for the program.

In pursuit of creating an Innovation Ecosystem in the state, K-DISC will notify and invite institutions from all over the state, across categories and streams, to register for participation. In order to apply, institutions must meet certain criteria set out by K-DISC. Due to constraints in resources for the program, institutions will be shortlisted based on clearly laid out indicators.

2.1. Institutions identified to be part of the program have been classified into two broad categories:
2.1.1. Group 1: This would cover the following institutions,

• Universities
• Engineering Colleges
• Medical Colleges
• Ayurveda Colleges
• Other Professional Colleges
• Business Schools
• Media & Fine Arts Schools
• Arts & Science Colleges
• Polytechnics

2.1.2. Group 2: This would cover the following institutions

• Higher Secondary Schools
• High Schools
• Industrial Training Institutes
• Junior Technical Schools
• Vocational Higher Secondary Schools
• Sports Schools

2.2. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Since the Institutions are envisioned to play a crucial facilitating role in the YIP, K-DISC has stipulated a minimum Eligibility Criteria for Institutions:
a. Institute must be registered Institution recognized by the Govt of India, Govt of Kerala.
b. The Heads/Directors/Principals of these Institutions must consent to register for the program.
c. Institution must nominate at least 2 (TWO) Teachers or Faculty members to be the FACILITATORS for the entire duration of YIP 2020.
d. Institution may nominate mentors for the YIP programme
e. Institution must be able to identify, support and ensure the participation of at least a few students,

2.3. SCREENING & SELECTION PROCESS

K-DISC will use the following Screening & Selection Criteria for prioritizing the final selected list of YIP 2019 Institutions:
a. NIRF Ranking during the last year – for Institutions of Higher Education
b. NAAC Grade during the last year – for Institutions of Higher Education
c. ARIIA Ranking of institutions on Innovation Achievements during the last year
d. Number of Students enrolled in regular programmes during the last year– for all kinds of Institutions
e. Previous Years’ Results – for different regular courses
f. No of requests originated for Mentor Registration till the time of application

In the envisioned design of the YIP program, facilitators are expected to be agents for continuity of the YIP program within their institutions. They shall identify and support suitable applicants/candidates, coordinate with K-DISC etc. and would serve as torch bearers for pursuing institutional goals in solving inspiring problems.

3.1. NOMINATION PROCESS
At least 2 (TWO) facilitators must be nominated by each registering Institution – this is to ensure continuity in problem solving at the institutional level. While the Government Departments and Institution Heads have the flexibility to nominate facilitators of their choice, for the success of the YIP, these Facilitators must be approachable by students, experienced and passionate about the program.

K-DISC has designed the YIP 2020 Challenge to be open, any student of any registered, recognized educational Institution in Kerala can apply/register for the program to have a chance to be part of YIP 2020.

4.1. SCREENING & SELECTION PROCESS
K-DISC will find the most suitable candidates for the program through a rigorous Screening & Selection process. The selection process is designed with enough rigor to look at the quality and merit of ideas submitted by the applicants. The programme shall be built to check for inquisitiveness, spirit of enquiry, grit and passion which are important pre-requisites for the applicant’s progress and success through the program.
After final submission of their ideas on the digital platform, applicants will be individually and collectively contacted, and even observed closely during interactions, to understand the rationale for their choice of the problem, their rough approach for solving the problem and their passion for the cause.

4.2. GROUPS
K-DISC, and the participating Institutions, will encourage Team-Based/Group-based participation. YIP Applicants would be encouraged to form small groups or teams, of at least 2 (TWO) members and up to 5 (FIVE) members, with peers from the same Institution to enter the program.
Multiple groups/teams would be permitted to enter the program, provided the Institutions they are registering from has also registered, and has not exceeded the maximum number of permitted groups. For Group 1 Institutions, a maximum of 10 (TEN) groups/teams are permitted while for the Group 2 Institutions the permissible limit is 5(FIVE) groups/teams.
K-DISC will also, in exceptional cases, allow individual participation based on the merit of the idea proposed by the applicant.

Mentorship is a key process in the YIP ecosystem, YIP candidates receive much of their support and guidance from mentors. To grow the Mentor network, YIP 2020 will allow institutions to nominate Mentors, during their registration process.

5.1. NOMINATION PROCESS
Mentors can also be nominated by each registering Institution. To encourage the process of mentorship and the involvement of the institutions thereof, K-DISC will also screen and shortlist Institutions based on the number and experience of mentors nominated by them.

Registrations will be invited from institutions via a digital platform which will have the provision for handling the following:

6.1. REGISTRATION OF INSTITUTIONS
Details of the Institutions shall be gathered during this registration process, and along with the details of the Institution Head, their consent for participation in the program will also be captured. At least 2 (TWO) Facilitators will have to be nominated for the program, without which the registration process would be considered incomplete.

6.2. REGISTRATION OF FACILITATORS
Details of the nominated Facilitators will be gathered during this part of registration process. At least 2 (TWO) Facilitators will have to complete registration for the program, without which the application of the Institution would be considered incomplete.

6.3. REGISTRATION OF MENTORS
Details of the Institutions-nominated Mentors shall be gathered during this registration process.

6.4. REGISTRATION OF PROBLEM BEING SOLVED
In order to, to check for spirit of enquiry, inquisitiveness, genuine interest and passion for the idea, the registration process for the idea has been made more rigorous. YIP 2020 Applicants will have to fill in the details of that idea into a specifically created Idea Template on the web portal.

6.4.1. The Problem Statement template has been designed to gather the following details as a minimum, about the problem being registered:
6.4.1.1. Background of the problem being solved
6.4.1.2. The Problem in just ONE Line, typically around 25-35 words.
6.4.1.3. What is the problem being solved?
6.4.1.4. Who is affected by the problem?
6.4.1.5. What is the root cause of the problem?
6.4.1.6. Motivation/Rationale for solving the problem?
6.4.1.7. What are the limitations of the existing solutions?
6.4.1.8. How is this Idea/solution an improvement over existing products/solution?
6.4.1.9. Approach to the solution for the problem
6.4.1.10. Outcome of the solution
6.4.1.11. Time frame for coming up with the solution
6.4.1.12. Estimated cost of the solution