Dassault Systèmes announced AAKRUTI 2021, a nationwide product design contest for engineering, design, and technology students in India. AAKRUTI 2021 aims to give students across the country an opportunity to develop innovative solutions that address longstanding problems and future technological and social challenges.
The challenge consists of three stages: product design preparation, design concept submission, and final product design submission. During these stages, participants are required to create their projects virtually through online collaboration enabled by the cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
AAKRUTI 2021 features four distinct themes that allow students the freedom to innovate:
Theme 1: “Re-engineer Existing Plastic Products with Biodegradable Materials”
Participants must select a daily-use product primarily made of non-compostable plastic and re-engineer it using compostable or recyclable materials, without compromising its functionality. They must also propose a solution for mass production of the redesigned product.
Theme 2: “Affordable Products for Healthcare”
Participants are required to develop a product that addresses a real clinical need. The product should be affordable, energy-efficient, easy to handle, and flexible. The design should be innovative and beneficial for patients, medical practitioners, and end users.
Theme 3: “Scientific Toy Design for Kids”
Participants must design toys based on STEM learning that introduce or reinforce a child’s understanding of science, technology, and engineering concepts. The focus should be on teaching multiple concepts while stimulating curiosity through innovative design.
Theme 4: “Water for Life”
Participants are expected to innovate and create solutions that help minimize water usage in households, industries, agriculture, and public spaces. The designs should aim to conserve water, increase groundwater levels, prevent water loss and contamination, and support the cleaning of water reservoirs.
All student teams must register online by July 15, 2021, on the 3DEXPERIENCE EDU website. After registration and approval of their project summary, teams will gain access to SOLIDWORKS applications and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform to develop their ideas.
The top 10 teams from across India will be selected based on innovation, feasibility, and practical application, and will compete in the AAKRUTI 2021 final scheduled for November 2021. Winners will receive cash prizes worth INR 300,000, a free SOLIDWORKS student license, vouchers, and potential hiring opportunities with Dassault Systèmes in India.
With a legacy spanning over a decade as an innovation-driven contest, AAKRUTI continues to nurture student imagination and help transform ideas into reality using Dassault Systèmes’ advanced product design applications. In its 10th edition in 2020, 2,820 students from 385 colleges across 25 states in India participated. Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, participants collaborated effectively in virtual environments using SOLIDWORKS applications powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
