TECHgium® 2026 Showcases India’s Growing Deep-Tech Engineering Talent and Innovation Strength!

L&T Technology Services successfully hosted the ninth edition of TECHgium® 2026, its flagship student innovation competition, highlighting the rapid growth of India’s deep-tech engineering ecosystem and the rising capabilities of young innovators across the country. Held at the company’s Mysuru campus, the event attracted more than 62,000 registrations from over 540 engineering institutes nationwide, reflecting increasing interest in advanced technology development and industry-driven innovation among engineering students.

The latest edition of TECHgium® recorded a significant 60% increase in participation compared to the previous year and nearly 800% growth since the competition was first launched in 2016. The strong response demonstrates how India’s engineering education ecosystem is evolving toward practical problem-solving, emerging technologies, and industry-oriented research.

Students participating in the competition presented a wide range of innovative working prototypes designed to address real-world industrial and societal challenges using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation, smart sensing, and intelligent systems. Several projects focused on improving healthcare, industrial safety, smart living, and digital communication through technology-driven solutions.

Among the featured innovations were robotic automation systems for medical diagnostics, AI-powered multilingual video localisation platforms, live AI-based captioning systems, Wi-Fi sensing technologies for smart homes, and adaptive robotic arms aimed at enhancing industrial safety and operational efficiency. The diversity of projects highlighted the growing multidisciplinary approach adopted by young engineers in India.

The top honour at TECHgium® 2026 was awarded to a team from M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Engineering for their project titled “NextGen Self-Charging Hybrid Scooter.” The project demonstrated innovative thinking in sustainable mobility and energy-efficient transportation technologies, areas that are becoming increasingly important in India’s transition toward cleaner mobility solutions.

The runner-up position was secured by students from RNS Institute of Technology for their project “TETROBOT – Modular Robotic Arm,” while the second runner-up award went to PSNA College of Engineering and Technology for “AERIS – Stability Starts with Comfort.”

In addition, the People’s Choice Award was won by students from ITER for their project “C.H.I.R.A.N.J.E.E.V.I.,” further highlighting the diversity and creativity of engineering talent emerging from institutions across the country.

One of the major strengths of the TECHgium® platform is its industry mentorship model. Over a nine-month period, 34 finalist teams worked closely with engineers and experts from LTTS, receiving technical guidance, industry insights, and development support to refine their concepts into practical prototypes. The finalists later presented their innovations before a jury comprising industry leaders, technical experts, and academicians.

The event also featured the participation of Dr. Shubha V Iyengar, veteran scientist from CSIR-NAL and recipient of the Padma Shri award, who attended as Chief Guest. She described TECHgium® as a strong representation of the future of engineering innovation and praised the platform for its ability to transform student concepts into practical, industry-relevant technologies with real-world applications.

Rajeev Gupta, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer at LTTS, stated that TECHgium® has evolved into a reflection of India’s expanding deep-tech engineering capabilities and innovation potential. He emphasized that the platform continues to bridge the gap between academia and industry while promoting what the company describes as “Engineering Intelligence” — the integration of AI, software, hardware, and domain expertise to create scalable and impactful solutions.

Winners of the competition received prizes worth more than ₹18 lakh, further encouraging innovation and technical excellence among young engineering talent. The success of TECHgium® 2026 highlights India’s growing role as a global center for engineering innovation, advanced technology development, and next-generation industrial problem-solving.