Ingersoll Rand India launches Unique Platform for Innovators, Invites Entries for its Sustainable Habitat Challenge

Competition launched as part of the CII Industrial Innovation Grand Challenge. Provides opportunity to innovators and students to be a part of this global open innovation initiative

INDIACSR News Network

NEW DELHI: Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments in partnership with CII, has announced the Sustainable Habitat Challenge, as part of the CII Industrial Innovation Grand Challenge. The competition that provides an open innovation platform for participants including designers, architects, students and professionals, invites entries for Sustainable Technologies for Model Habitats in Emerging Economies.

Given the pressure on natural resources today, affordable housing that takes into account factors such as low energy usage, comfort, safety and security of occupants is a critical need for emerging economies today. Creating ‘Sustainable Habitats’ will take into account factors such as low energy usage, conserving natural resources yet provide comfort, safety and security to communities.

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The Sustainable Habitat program is an initiative of Ingersoll Rand by which it is collaborating with the larger community to help design a solution that will innovatively address the housing needs of emerging economies while optimizing both natural and financial resources. By virtue of this challenge, the company will integrate and implement creative ideas and innovative concepts to build a set of low cost dwellings at their campus in Bangalore that will utilize sustainable materials, solar technologies, water conservation, sanitation, security, remote health services, data management and other eco-friendly interventions.

“Ingersoll Rand is focused on sustainability and creating positive environments in the communities where we are present. Our vision is to create and sustain safe, comfortable and efficient environments that advance the quality of life while driving sustainable progress for the society. Through our sustainable habitat initiative, we aim to collaborate with the larger community to design a solution that addresses the housing needs to create robust societies in emerging economies;” said Venkatesh Valluri, Chairman and President, Ingersoll Rand India. He further added, “We are happy to partner with CII in the Industrial Innovation Grand Challenge initiative facilitating an excellent platform for students and entrepreneurs who will get an opportunity to not only showcase their ideas to the industry but also implement them real time.”

Ingersoll Rand is partnering with Emergent Institute in Bangalore in implementation of this project. Speaking about this initiative, Dr. Stuart L. Hart, Co-Founder of Emergent Institute, says, “We are excited to be partnering with Ingersoll Rand to catalyze leapfrog, sustainable innovation in the affordable housing space.  Our goals are completely aligned here since we are focused entirely on commercializing tomorrows distributed, sustainable technologies starting with the underserved at the base of the income pyramid.”

Commenting on the Grand Challenge, Anjan Das, Executive Director – Technology, CII said, “We hope that the Sustainable Habitat project will serve as a model of social and innovation convergence through public–private partnerships that can help create a prolonged impact on societies by adopting a more sustainable approach and utilizing limited energy resources.”

Starting May 21, 2013, participants including students from design and engineering institutes will need to submit abstracts on technologies and ideas for the Sustainable Habitat by registering on the microsite http://www.sustainablehabitatchallenge.com.The entries thereafter will be reviewed by a panel comprising eminent jury members from the industry and academia. Selected participants will be given an opportunity to present their concept for a final evaluation.

The winner of the challenge will be announced on July 25, 2013 and will get an opportunity to build a set of low-cost dwellings on Ingersoll Rand campus in Bangalore. The low-cost dwelling will utilize sustainable materials, solar technologies, water sanitation technologies, hygiene creation trainings and security solutions.

Ingersoll Rand aims to set up five Sustainable Habitat dwellings as per the five climatic zones by early 2014. The model dwellings will be spread out in an area of approximately 250 square feet each and will serve as an open innovation platform that will be constantly upgraded with the latest in technology. These will gradually become a reference site for the ideal sustainable low cost habitat programs.

Ingersoll Rand in India
Ingersoll Rand is committed to India and is implementing strategies for product innovation and design for Industrial Technologies; Security; Food Safety; Energy Efficiency and Sustainability. The company is based out of 18 locations in the country. Ingersoll Rand believes that Innovation for emerging economies is critical for products to succeed in these markets. The company has three world class manufacturing facilities at Naroda, Sahibabad and Chennai; and two Engineering and Technology Centers at Bangalore and Chennai. Ingersoll–Rand (India) Limited is listed on the National Stock Exchange of India and the Bombay Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.co.in.