Maker Bhavan Foundation

Tinkerers Labs (TLs) are academic makerspaces established in collaboration with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across India. In 2024, Maker Bhavan Foundation (MBF) launched a new TL at IIT Ropar in Rupnagar, Punjab, bringing the total to 12 labs nationwide. The setup cost for the new facility is USD 100,000, of which USD 48,286.97 was disbursed in 2024 as the initial tranche. A state-of-the-art Management Information System was also developed and deployed to enhance lab operations. USD 87,112.97 was expended in 2024 toward development costs.

Invention Factory (IF) is a flagship, six-week, residential summer program designed for undergraduate engineering and design students in India. In 2024, it was held at IIT Bombay, IIT Gandhinagar, and IIT Jammu. A total of 30 student teams (58 students) from 15 IITs, 3 NITs, and 16 private colleges participated, culminating in 30 provisional patent filings in both the U.S. and India. Program expenses totaled USD 117,701.70 in 2024.

Collaborative Classrooms (CC) - IIT Bombay - The Collaborative Classroom in the Department of Electrical Engineering at IIT Bombay supports faculty in embedding active learning strategies. In 2024, 13 courses were taught in this space, engaging 685 students. More than 70 projects were created in the Experiential Learning Lab. MBF disbursed the third and final grant of USD 49,000 for this initiative.

Centre for Healthcare Entrepreneurship set up with the objectiveof catalysing healthcare innovation to bring about affordable solutions toaddress healthcare needs of India. CfHe will spark of entrepreneurship in youthand provide them with focused hands-on education, training and top-notchmentorship.

The Technovation Sandbox leverages the living lab model to empower students to create real-world, deployable solutions on campus. In 2024, USD 13,800 was spent to support the implementation of 10 student-led projects at IIT Bombay, promoting innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurial thinking.

Vishwakarma Awards - MBFs annual nationwide student challenge focused on sustainability themes in 2024. The program received 526 applications434 from private institutions, 61 from IITs, and 26 from NITs. Eighteen teams were selected for the Grand Finale, with six ultimately named national winners. Program costs for the year were USD 11,187.50.

Learn Engineering by Activity Program (LEAP)- Incubated at IIT Madras Research Park, LEAP is an experiential learning initiative originally seeded by MBF. In 2024, MBF released the final grant installment of USD 5,000. The program expanded to 14 Tier II and III institutions, reaching 3,234 students. Additionally, 270 faculty members were trained, and students built 120 engineering projects.