ET Now and DuPont present 'The Power of Shunya: Challenge for Zero'

The show will see a contest among 24 most impactful entries shortlisted from 250 entries received from 28 institutes; entries range from underwater autonomous vehicles to bamboo cars to freeze-dried yogurt

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Delhi | October 14, 2013

ET Now, in association with DuPont India, is launching an inspiring television competition series, 'The Power of Shunya: Challenge for Zero'. The unique show will give university students the opportunity to present their best ideas and innovations that will help India achieve progress against the goal of Shunya or zero – a country of zero hunger, zero malnutrition, zero accidents, zero lives lost, zero carbon footprint. The 10-part series is hosted by popular television anchor Gaurav Kapur and premiered on Saturday, October 12, 2013, at 6:30 PM.

'The Power of Shunya: Challenge for Zero' is an invitation to the best minds from science, technology and business schools to come together to showcase ground-breaking innovations and their go-to-market strategies across key sectors like food, agriculture, nutrition, health, energy, mobility, infrastructure, safety and sustainability.

The jury for 'The Power of Shunya: Challenge for Zero' comprises Vani Kola, MD, Kalaari;  Harish Hande, MD, Selco India; Rajeev Karwal, Founder & CEO, Milagrow; and Homi Bhedwar, Technology Director, South Asia & ASEAN, DuPont. Special judge for the grand finale is Kiran Karnik, Member, National Innovation Council.

After a nationwide call for entry from science and technology institutes, 24 of the most impactful innovations have been shortlisted from 250 entries to make it to the series. These 24 innovators have now been each paired with a student of an eminent business school to help develop robust business plans and marketing strategies that will enable these innovations to reach the market and help achieve their Shunya impact.

In each of the preliminary competition rounds, three teams of two students – one engineering student and one business student – will compete per episode. In each episode, the team adjudged first will be placed on a leader board while the other two teams will be eliminated. After all the 24 teams have presented and been evaluated by the panel, the jury will then select from the leader board the three finalists that they determine as the top three to compete in the Grand Finale round. The contestants' innovations will be judged upon the product's tangibility, functionality, ability to harness the power of science, potential impact and ability to achieve the Power of Zero.

The winning team will get a prize of Rs 1,000,000 and paid experience to the global DuPont Headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. The 1^st runner-up will get Rs 500,000 and a paid experience to DuPont India. The 2^nd runner-up stands to gain Rs 250,000 and a paid experience to DuPont India.

Rajeev A Vaidya, President - South Asia and ASEAN, DuPont, said, “The Power of Shunya initiative reflects our belief in the power of science-based innovations for problem solving. Every day at DuPont we are bringing our market-driven science to address some of the big challenges that face us. At the same time, we recognise that science alone is not the answer. Collaboration can unlock the power of science because these challenges are so big that no one can solve these alone. I hope our Challenge for Zero invitation to the science, technology and business students of the country helps inspire the young minds to pursue science-based problem-solving and to find new and innovative solutions that will help India become one of the world's leading and sustainable economies.”

Avinash Kaul, Chief Executive Officer, ET Now, Times Now and Zoom, said, “We are proud to be associated with such a unique competition that not only motivates the youth but also gives them a platform to showcase their astuteness. There is no doubt that the series will ignite a nationwide passion and pursuit for similar innovations.”

Hemant Arora, Business Head - Branded Content, Times Television Network, said, “The Challenge for Zero is the most logical extension of 'The Quest for Zero' – the 16-part series that is currently airing on Times Now under the umbrella Power of Shunya project championed by DuPont and Times Television Network. In the earlier series the focus was a nationwide search of science-based innovations that currently exist and have a positive and catalytic impact on sustainable India.  The Challenge for Zero fittingly carries the mandate of Power of Shunya by encouraging the movement through India's youth dividend – the university students.”

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