'The Power of Shunya' picks two top innovations

An innovation towards zero food wastage and another towards zero water-borne diseases have emerged as winners in 'The Power of Shunya: Challenge for Zero' competition

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Mumbai | September 11, 2014

Micro Cold Storage, a farm-level solar cold storage system that can address the issue of food wastage, has been adjudged as the winning innovation in the renowned national university competition, 'DuPont The Power of Shunya: Challenge for Zero', in association with ET NOW. Vivek Pandey from IIT Kharagpur and Rahul Sharma from IIFT Kolkata have won the top prize for this innovation. The runner-up prize was given to Zeta Nano Purifier, a new water-purifying product developed by contestants Devlina Das and Pushkin Kasat from VIT, Vellore and Shailesh J Mehta School of Management, IIT Bombay.

Speaking about the innovations, Balvinder Singh Kalsi, President, South Asia & ASEAN, DuPont, said, “DuPont has identified three specific global challenges that have emerged with a growing population: feeding the world, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and protecting people and the environment. These winning innovations, focussed on 'zero food waste' and 'zero water-borne diseases', reflect our belief that science-powered solutions can play a vital role in addressing these challenges. We feel that adoption of such innovations can help India become one of the world's leading and sustainable economies.”

Every year India loses 30 per cent of its food production due to food wastage and contamination. The winning idea of Micro Cold Storage can help increase the shelf life of agricultural produce, using solar-powered cold storage. It uses a uniquely designed thermal storage methodology that will control compartment cooling in tandem with regular cooling. The Zeta Nano Purifier is a zinc oxide nano particle that has been modified by amines. This new purifying technique is designed to treat large water masses plagued with a wide array of pollutants, including various types of metals, dyes and pesticides.

Jury member Dr Homi Bhedwar said, “I was delighted to witness the 'power of science' and the passion of young students in technology and business to achieve India's pursuit of Shunya. The students developed innovative approaches to address malnutrition, pain, energy deficiency, disability and a host of other challenges facing the country today. The innovations are compelling and as a jury member seeing them up close, I can say confidently that the future of India is in good hands.”

Hemant Arora

Hemant Arora, Business Head of Branded Content, ET NOW, TIMES NOW and zOom, said, “The show serves as a content-led platform which is a first in India. The show helped in identifying young innovators and entrepreneurs of our nation, who would be instrumental in building a progressive India and we at ET NOW are extremely gratified to provide this platform.”

The winning innovation beat 15 other path-breaking innovations from India's premier science & technology institutes and B-schools. The winner has received a grand prize of INR 1,000,000 and a paid experience to the global DuPont headquarters and the Experimental Station at Wilmington, Delaware, USA. The winners were announced at the grand finale of the show that aired last weekend on ET NOW.

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