By Rusen Kumar
NEW DELHI (India CSR): Geetaj Channana, the Head of Corporate Strategy at Vivo India, is leading the charge to unlock the untapped potential of India’s young innovators through the launch of the vivo Ignite initiative. Aligned with the Government of India’s vision to cultivate a culture of innovation, vivo Ignite aims to empower students from grades 8 to 12 by providing them with the resources, mentorship, and platform to transform their ideas into real-world solutions. This ambitious initiative encourages youth to dream big, create innovative solutions, and take their first steps toward addressing global challenges such as climate change, agriculture, and community development. With a keen focus on inclusivity, gender diversity, and expanding access to innovation beyond urban centers, Geetaj shares how vivo Ignite is set to shape the next generation of leaders and innovators, nurturing their potential to drive India’s growth toward a $5 trillion economy. In this conversation, we dive deep into the essence of the initiative, its strategic collaborations, and the long-term vision for creating a sustainable community of young innovators.
1. What inspired vivo India to launch the vivo Ignite initiative, and what are its core components?
To achieve the vision of a $5 trillion* Indian economy, it is crucial to harness our vast human potential in the best possible way. Technology and innovation will be the driving forces behind this growth, and advancing in these fields requires equipping our young population with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. While government initiatives like Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) are already playing a pivotal role in nurturing young innovators, the responsibility extends beyond them. As a responsible corporate, vivo India is committed to contributing to this vision. vivo Ignite: Technology and Innovation Initiative is a step in this direction—an initiative designed to foster a culture of innovation and provide opportunities for young students to dream, create and implement solutions to real-world problems.
Vivo Ignite is aligned with the Government of India’s vision to foster innovation and technological advancement among school students. With the Budget 2025 outlining plans to establish 50,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL), the initiative complements these efforts. This initiative aims to engage students from grades 8 to 12 in areas —such as Software-Tech Innovations, Agriculture & Climate Change, and Community Development—all of which tie back to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The program follows a three-step process:
- Idea Submission: Students submit an image along with a brief description of their unique idea, which must not have been previously recognized.
- Shortlisting and Mentorship: A panel of judges evaluates all submissions and selects 200 ideas—50 from each of the four zones (North, South, East, and West). The selected students receive mentorship and workshops to refine their ideas before submitting a detailed video of their working model or prototype. They also provide details of their project in a Project Display Board format. The top 10 ideas progress to the final stage.
- Grand Finale: Finalists receive mentorship and attend industry-specific workshops hosted by IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation. They then present their polished prototypes at the Grand Finale, where they showcase their ideas and solutions.
Vivo Ignite is about fostering an environment where young minds are equipped with the skills, resources, and support to transform their ideas into real-world innovations. Through this program, vivo aims to help the next generation of leaders create lasting impact in their communities and beyond.
2. The initiative has been launched in collaboration with esteemed partners like IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, NCERT, and UN GCNI. Can you elaborate on the role of each partner and how these collaborations contribute to achieving the program’s objectives?
The vivo Ignite initiative owes much of its success to the collaboration with key partners like IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, NCERT, and UN GCNI, each of whom brings valuable expertise and resources to the program.
CIET-NCERT is a key partner, enhancing the program’s accessibility and outreach, making sure students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to participate.
IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation provides technical guidance & mentorship and evaluation by continuously guiding students refine, validate and scale their ideas into real-world solutions.
UN GCNI helps in strengthening the program’s framework, ensuring alignment with Sustainable Development Goals and enabling outreach across both rural and urban India.
Through the combined strengths of these partners, vivo Ignite becomes more than just a competition. Collaboration enriches the experience, providing participants with tools, guidance, and global context needed to develop impactful solutions. This collective effort ensures that the program equips students to make a real difference in society while nurturing their potential for future leadership in innovation.
3. Are there any plans to expand vivo Ignite beyond urban areas to reach students in rural and underprivileged communities? Additionally, what measures are being taken to ensure inclusivity, such as encouraging participation from girls and students from marginalized backgrounds?
We are committed to providing equal opportunities for students across India, regardless of their location or background. This year, we have taken deliberate steps to extend our reach beyond urban centers, focusing on rural and underserved and backward districts, where access to innovation platforms has traditionally been limited. We have garnered registrations from aspirational districts defined by NITI Aayog, with 80 out of the 112 listed districts participating. This highlights the initiative’s deep reach and impact in empowering young innovators and providing them with opportunities across India. Our outreach efforts aim to bridge this gap by ensuring that students from these regions receive the mentorship, resources, and exposure necessary to develop ground-breaking solutions.
Inclusivity is a core value of this initiative. We have another program ‘Women in STEM’ under vivo Ignite. In collaboration with the Shooting Stars Foundation, the Women in STEM initiative is dedicated to fostering gender inclusivity in STEM fields, contributing to India’s growth. The program provides merit-based scholarships of up to INR 60,000 to girls pursuing education at prestigious engineering and medical colleges. Additionally, it offers mentorship and customized learning sessions to empower women in seamlessly transitioning into the corporate world.
Through vivo Ignite, we remain dedicated to nurturing talent, driving innovation, and shaping a more inclusive future in technology.
4. With the rapid advancements in emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and robotics, how does vivo Ignite ensure that students receive relevant and up-to-date learning experiences? Are there any specific workshops or mentorship programs tailored to these areas?
Within vivo Ignite, we are committed to equipping students with the knowledge and skills required to stay ahead in an evolving technological landscape. The initiative offers expert-led workshops, hands-on learning sessions, and personalized mentorship in emerging fields such as AI, IoT, robotics, and sustainability. We have partnered with NCERT who are supporting us create awareness and access to the initiative, and IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, which is helping us with mentoring, building presentation skills and providing industry-insights.
Beyond theoretical learning, vivo Ignite encourages participants to develop practical prototypes that address real-world challenges. Past participants have created solutions like AI-powered road safety systems and solar-driven agricultural tools, demonstrating the program’s focus on applied learning. By integrating mentorship, industry exposure, and hands-on experience, vivo Ignite ensures that students are not just learning about future technologies but actively shaping them.
5. Beyond the competition, how does vivo India plan to sustain engagement with past participants? Is there a long-term vision to create a community of young innovators who can collaborate, learn, and grow beyond the program?
At vivo India, our commitment to fostering innovation extends far beyond the competition itself. vivo Ignite is designed not just as a contest but as a platform to nurture a thriving community of young innovators. Our long-term vision is to create an ecosystem where past participants can continue learning, collaborating, and refining their ideas with the support of experts and industry leaders.
To achieve this, we provide ongoing mentorship, industry exposure, to further develop their prototypes. Additionally, partnerships with institutions like IIT Madras Pravartak Technologies Foundation, CIET-NCERT, and UN GCNI ensure that students receive continuous guidance and opportunities to scale their innovations. By building a network of young problem-solvers, vivo Ignite is shaping a future where technology-driven solutions create meaningful societal impact.
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About Rusen Kumar
Rusen Kumar is a distinguished journalist, author, and visionary knowledge entrepreneur specializing in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability in India. He is the founder and managing editor of India CSR Network, a leading platform dedicated to CSR and sustainability issues.
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