Empowering Innovation: A Transformative Talk by Mr. Chandan M. Tiwari
On December 12, 2024, the Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC) at Jaipuria Institute of Management organized an enlightening expert talk titled “Process of Innovation Development.” The session featured Mr. Chandan M. Tiwari, Founder of the Entrepreneurship Development Cell, India (EDCI), as the keynote speaker. The event was an inspiring journey into the principles, methodologies, and frameworks that empower creativity and drive impactful innovation.
Objective
The primary goal of this session was to equip participants with the tools and knowledge to:
- Generate, nurture, and develop innovative ideas.
- Address real-world challenges through creative problem-solving.
- Translate concepts into actionable and impactful outcomes.
- Overcome barriers to innovation such as fear of failure and resource constraints.
The talk emphasized fostering environments that integrate diverse perspectives, open dialogue, and collective problem-solving to enable innovation to thrive.
Key Highlights of the Session
1. Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) Framework
One of the significant highlights was the introduction to Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), a structured framework for assessing the maturity of a technology. The session explored all nine levels of TRL, offering participants a clear roadmap for innovation:
- TRL 1–3: From observing basic principles to proof of concept.
- TRL 4–5: Validating components in controlled and relevant environments.
- TRL 6–9: Demonstrating and qualifying systems for real-world deployment.
This roadmap guided attendees on how technologies progress from conceptualization to successful deployment, making the innovation process more structured and actionable.
2. Design Thinking: A Human-Centered Approach
Another essential focus of the talk was Design Thinking, a methodology that emphasizes empathy, creativity, and iteration. Participants explored the five key steps of Design Thinking:
- Empathize: Engage with users to understand their needs and challenges.
- Define: Articulate a clear problem statement based on user insights.
- Ideate: Brainstorm and generate a variety of creative solutions.
- Prototype: Create tangible models or mockups to test solutions.
- Test: Evaluate prototypes in real-world scenarios and refine based on feedback.
The session highlighted how Design Thinking aligns seamlessly with the TRL framework, ensuring that innovation remains user-centered and practical while progressing through technological readiness levels.
Key Takeaways
Participants left the session with actionable insights, including:
- Strategies for overcoming barriers to innovation, such as resistance to change or resource limitations.
- The importance of balancing creativity with practicality to ensure the feasibility and sustainability of solutions.
- How to integrate Design Thinking into various stages of the TRL framework for better alignment with user needs.
Event Details
- Participants: 75 Students, 3 Faculties, 1 External Speaker
- Event Coordinators: Dr. Devi, Dr. Namita, and E-Cell members
The event was a resounding success, igniting the innovative spirit of attendees and fostering a culture of creativity and continuous improvement.
