Maker Bhavan Foundation unveils 11th Tinkerers’ Lab at IIT Indore to ignite the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship among students
A student-managed, 24×7-open facility, the Prof. Deepak Phatak Tinkerers’ Lab will enable students to build product prototypes and grow into the next generation of changemakers
Indore, 11 September 2023: The Indian Institute of Technology – Indore (IIT Indore) has inaugurated Prof. Deepak Phatak Tinkerers’ Lab, a student-managed facility open 24×7 to one and all. The facility is funded by the Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF) and the Desai Sethi Foundation and is named after Padma Shri recipient Prof. Deepak B. Phatak, an exceptional educator and maker par excellence known for his path-breaking work on a variety of digital technology domains.
As the chief guest at the occasion, Prof. Phatak addressed the students and highlighted the value of learning by doing for an engineer: “The product prototypes students build here will not be bound by any syllabus, but only by the imaginative ideas and creative talent brought to life. The students are encouraged to work and build things with their own hands and seek advice and mentorship from elders as required. The passion that gets poured into the work done here would make the students far better practical problem-solvers in life. Their accomplishments here may constitute tiny steps taken towards becoming successful entrepreneurs.”
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Suhas Joshi, Director of IIT Indore, said, “The inauguration of Tinkerers’ Lab is a momentous occasion for IIT Indore, marking our commitment towards nurturing the next generation of engineers who are adept at practical problem-solving, besides being well-versed in theory. It reflects IIT Indore’s commitment to providing a holistic ambience to its students and preparing them to make a real impact in the world.”
This remarkable addition to the IIT Indore campus was made with the support of two principal donors, Dr Hemant Kanakia, Chairman and Founder of Maker Bhavan Foundation, and Bharat Desai, Chairman and Co-Founder, Syntel, Inc., through the Desai Sethi Foundation. The goal was to encourage real-world problem-solving and ignite the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship among students.
Bharat Desai joined the inauguration online from the USA and interacted with the students in a fireside chat. He said, “We are inspired by Prof. Deepak Phatak’s passion for teaching, his deep understanding of technology and his ability to translate that into clear conceptual principles that audiences can readily grasp and his immense love for India. This laboratory is dedicated to his contributions to India and his unwavering support to learning.”
Dr Hemant Kanakia attended the function in person with his batchmates from the 1975 batch of IIT Bombay. He shared the history and goals of the programme: “Tinkerers’ Lab began with the support of the batch of 1975 of IIT Bombay. Today, it is the flagship initiative of Maker Bhavan Foundation, which is working towards transforming India’s STEM education landscape by creating the future generation of talented technologists and inventive engineers – the next generation of changemakers who are master innovators, real problem solvers, confident builders, and ethical leaders for the nation.”
As TL opens its doors to the IIT Indore community, it heralds a new era of discovery, creativity, and engineering excellence. With state-of-the-art equipment, this facility promises to be a crucible for ideas, a place where dreams take shape, and innovations come to life.
About Tinkerers’ Lab (TL)
Tinkerers’ Lab is a haven for aspiring engineers, innovators, and creators. This 24×7 lab encourages students to embrace technology as more than just a subject – to see it as a creative tool and a lifelong passion. TL empowers students to venture into uncharted territories, to tinker, build, and innovate. This is a place where creative ideas are transformed into tangible products and where students become engineer makers.
About the Indian Institute of Technology – Indore (IITI)
The Indian Institute of Technology – Indore, located in Madhya Pradesh and known as IIT Indore or IITI, is an institute of national importance established by the Government of India in 2009. The IIT Indore is located at Khandwa Road in a permanent campus spread over 501.2 acres with a forest spread over 200 acres hosting vibrant flora and fauna and water bodies. The institute has more than 10 departments catering to 9 UG and more than 25 PG and PhD programmes. IIT Indore is recognised globally for excellence in academics and research through various ranking forums. The institute has also made its mark in research and product development with more than 100 technologies developed and many startups incubated at the ACE Foundation at IIT Indore.
About Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF)
Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF) was formed in 2019 as a US 501(c) 3 public charity with a vision of modernising STEM education in Indian science and engineering colleges by promoting a culture of making and active learning and nurturing talented makers – students and faculty. This helps students to learn to build realistic engineering projects that solve real-world problems, develop an inventive mindset, and acquire essential soft skills and habits of lifelong learning. MBF works with various institutes in India, its faculty, and students, to make education more relevant and responsive to the real-life needs of people and society.
About Desai Sethi Foundation (DSF)
The Desai Sethi Foundation (DSF) is a US-based philanthropic foundation committed to building inclusive economies. DSF applies technology and innovation to all of its initiatives across education, entrepreneurship, and wellness. DSF’s programmes include the Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship at IIT Bombay, the Desai Accelerator at the University of Michigan, and DEEP Shaala, an initiative to transform education in rural government schools in Gujarat.
