Ahmedabad: Happiness Reserves Foundation, a CSR initiative of diversified conglomerate Chiripal Group, has collaborated with the Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat, to organise the World STEM and Robotics Olympiad (WSRO). WSRO International Championship 2024 is India’s largest robotics competition. The two-day event was inaugurated on Saturday – September 14, 2024, at Vigyaan Bhawan, Science City in Ahmedabad and saw participation from some 1500+ students and young innovators from across 12+ countries.
Held on September 14 and 15, 2024, the championship witnessed a remarkable display of creativity and technological prowess by young innovators in categories such as STEM Balloon Car, LEGO Line Following, Drone Challenges, STEM Water Rocketry, among others. The event also featured workshops, a startup exhibition, and awards for innovative startups, further broadening the platform for budding innovators.
The idea behind organising the event is to nurture young minds and equip them with necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the fast-evolving world driven by technological evolution. Year after year, WSRO International serves as a platform to celebrate innovation and encourage young minds to apply their skills to solve real-world problems.
Shri Vishal Chiripal, Founder, Happiness Reserves Foundation, expressed his delight, addressing the audience during the inauguration ceremony. “The WSRO International Championship is a platform where dreams take flight, and the future is shaped by the brilliance and creativity of our young minds. As we witness the competition unfold, I urge all participants to embrace STEM as not just a field but as a way to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.”
Events like Entrepreneur Challenge and Young Scientist, which were also part of the Championship, provided the future leaders of STEM and business a platform to showcase their entrepreneurial skills.
In addition to the competition, a variety of other activities are taking place, including a startup exhibition, startup awards, workshops on drones and a range of other engaging events.
“As we gather here, I am reminded of the profound impact that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have had on our world. These fields have been the driving force behind countless innovations and advancements that have improved our lives, transformed industries, and even taken us beyond the boundaries of our planet. In the face of complex challenges, STEM has provided us with solutions that were once deemed impossible,” Shri Chiripal further went on to say.
WSRO has been at the forefront of promoting technology skill development through innovative interventions, since 2018. By far, some 50,000+ students in the age-group of 4-15 years, are thoroughly trained in Robotics and STEM. WSRO has signed an MOU with the Government of Gujarat’s Department of Science & Technology and Science City to organise a robotics competition in collaboration with them.
Every year, thousands of engineers, executives, students and families come together to be inspired by industry leaders, examine new startups, build robots for various challenges and learn about the latest technology innovations.
This year, the Ministry of Sports in Goa has also extended its support to the event to be held in Goa. The organisation has also collaborated with Schools having Atal Tinkering Laboratories in Gujarat, to ensure that all ATL students can benefit from this event.
That apart, meaningful partnerships have also been formed with universities of repute such as Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), Gujarat Technological University (GTU), the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Anant National University, and Marwadi University, among others.
Over the years, the WSRO has become a beacon of STEM education and innovation in India. The event has attracted more 8,000+ Participants, 5,000+ coaches and mentors, and 10,000+ visitors. Over 100+ Indian teams participated in Robotics Championship Asia-Shanghai, China and Robotics International-Tallinn, Estonia during the past editions.
