IGNITION 2023

Department of Data Science and Data Science Association(DSA) Organised Ignition 2023. It was an open-for-all, brainstorming event, where individuals from different backgrounds, skills and interests converge to diagnose problems in relevant domains. The participants had to identify the most pertinent societal opportunities and ideate the most viable solution. The idea submission had to be made by the 20th of February. The preliminary round presentation of the submitted idea happened on 22nd February 2023 at the Central Block Auditorium. The top 5 participants were then given an opportunity to present their idea on 28th February, National Science Day. Following the presentations, Prof. Ajay Matthews John gave a talk on Intellectual Property Rights and its importance.

Preliminary Round:

The preliminary round of Ignition was held on February 22, 2023, in the Central Block Auditorium. The event saw 15 presentations from students of various departments. Participants were given 5 minutes to give a presentation on their idea, followed by a question-answer round with the judges. After careful deliberation, the judges selected five finalists who demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovation, and potential for impact. These five finalists moved on to the final round of the Ideathon, where they had the opportunity to further refine their ideas and present them to a larger audience.

Finals:

On February 28th, 2023, the final round of the "Ignition" ideathon was held in the Central Block Auditorium to celebrate National Science Day. The event saw the participation of five finalists who presented their innovative ideas in front of the judges.

The first idea was an AI-based investment algorithm that aimed to assist investors in managing their funds by leveraging machine learning techniques to analyse financial data and make data-driven investment decisions. The second idea was a mobile app named "Talk Duo" that would allow people to connect with investors and pitch their ideas/startups to grow their business. The third idea was a financial literacy app named "FinShastra" that would use AI to help answer users' financial questions, give them consultancy on crypto and forex arbitrage and stock market, and help them track their budgets. The fourth idea was an AI-powered solution to keep track of the workers working on a field and detect any activity on the fields in the night. The fifth and final idea was a mobile app named "Laxmi Bai Finds" that aimed to help find and review maids in one's locality, hire them on a contract, and also get freelance maids when the regular maid is on leave.

The five finalists presented their ideas for 3 minutes, followed by a 7-minute question-answer round by the judges. After careful deliberation, the judges announced the winners. The first prize was won by "Laxmi Bai Finds," while the first runner-up was "Talk Duo," and the second runner-up was "FinShastra."

Talk on Intellectual Property Rights by Prof. Ajay Matthew John

On 28th February 2023, in the Central Block Auditorium , Prof. Ajay Matthew John presented a talk on "Protect your ideas: An Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights". The presentation focused on the importance of safeguarding your ideas and innovations through various types of Intellectual Property (IP) rights.

Sir began the talk by highlighting the intangible nature of ideas and how they exist inside one's brain. He emphasised the need for protecting these ideas and making revenue from them. He then went on to explain the different types of IP, including copyrights and industrial property, which includes trade designs, trade secrets, geographical indicators, and integrated circuits. The talk also delved into different IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights), with a particular focus on patents. He explained that patents grant exclusive rights to inventors for a limited period of time (20 years) and are granted for new products or processes that have an inventive step and industrial application. He also discussed what is not considered an invention and gave an example of Google's patent of targeted ad services. Additionally, sir explained how to submit a patent application. The talk highlighted the importance of IP protection and its role in promoting innovation and creativity. John discussed various conventions such as Paris, TRIPS, GATT, and Berne that provide a framework for protecting IP rights at the global level. In conclusion, Ajay Mathew Jhon's presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the basics of Intellectual Property Rights and the importance of protecting one's ideas. The talk was informative and well-received by the audience, who left with a greater understanding of how to safeguard their intellectual property.

Ignition was a successful ideathon, providing a platform for participants to showcase their innovative ideas and potential. The participants had the opportunity to further develop their ideas and potentially make a positive impact on the organisation and society as a whole. The event showcased a wide range of innovative and creative ideas from the participants. The presentations were engaging and informative, highlighting the potential of each idea. The judges were impressed with the quality of the presentations and the level of preparation demonstrated by the participants.