IIT Roorkee-based startup wins DRDO's 'Dare to Dream 3.0' innovation contest

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee-based startup, Indienergy was incubated in the Technology Incubation and Entrepreneurship Development Society (TIEDS) at the Institute's campus. Indienergy won DRDO's "Dare to Dream 3.0" contest in the startup category.

The startup focuses on Sodium (Na)-ion Battery Technology development, their Na-ion batteries are cost effective and inline with Aatms Nirbhar Bharat's objectives. All the necessary components required to manufacture and commercialise the batter technology are developed by the startup company itself.

TIEDS was established to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, and runs the business incubator called Technology Innovation and Development of Entrepreneurship Support (TIDES) hosted at IIT Roorkee.

The team including Akash Soni, Yogesh Sharma, Nagesh Kumar and Asit Sahoo, bagged the first place at the contest and won an award of RS 10 lakh presented by defense minister, Rajnath Singh. In 2021, Sudipta Sarkar from IIT Roorkee was the winner of the innovation contest in the individual category and Log 9 Materials Sci Private Limited, the first startup incubated by TIDES, won the second prize in the startup category.

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The 'Dare to Dream' contest was initiated in memory of the former president, APJ Abdul Kalam. It aims to identify ideas and technologies that have potential for future adoption in Indian defense and aerospace needs.

Indienergy, co-founder, Yogesh Sharma, said: "building a strong, self-sufficient India in battery manufacturing requires the collective desires and efforts of the entire nation. IIT Roorkee's support for Indinergy in its quest to develop indigenous battery technology is due acknowledged. To make India Aatm Nirbhar in energy storage, we have been working not only on cell technology but also creating a local supply chain for raw materials for Na-ion batteries."

"Indi Energy is on a mission to develop low-cost, safe, and high-performance Sodium-Ion Batteries. If Electric mobility and renewable energy recourse are to be fully utilized, a cheaper battery is the utmost requirement. In the journey of developing game-changing technology, we are delighted to receive the first prize from our Defense organizations. Such recognitions and appreciation are the booster and keep motivating us to accomplish our goals." added Indienergy, co-founder, Akash Soni.