CMR University is partnering with the Ministry of Education to drive innovation through design thinking and entrepreneurial learning
By Dr. Kiran Kumari Patil, President – Institute Innovation Council, CMR University, and Deputy Director – School of Engineering and Technology (SOET)
Innovation is no longer a buzzword. In an age of rapid change, it is the bedrock of sustainable progress. At CMR University (CMRU), we believe innovation must be human-centred, inclusive and impact-driven. Design thinking lies at the heart of our approach—a problem-solving mindset that empowers students to empathise, ideate and prototype meaningful solutions.
Our collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC) has helped institutionalise innovation across disciplines. From IoT startups to culturally rooted tech tools, our students are creating ideas with real impact.
Design thinking as a mindset, not just a method
At CMRU, design thinking is more than a structured technique. It is a mindset that brings together logic, creativity, empathy and systems thinking. Unlike traditional problem-solving methods, design thinking is iterative and user-focused. It trains students to frame the right problem before rushing to find solutions.
We begin introducing design thinking in the first semester. This early exposure builds student confidence, creativity and empathy. We aim to create socially aware innovators who can tackle complex real-world challenges.
Our pedagogy guides students through five stages: empathise with users, define the problem, ideate original solutions, prototype quickly, and test effectively. Each stage builds entrepreneurial thinking and practical problem-solving skills that extend beyond the classroom.
National collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell
The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Education and AICTE, plays a key role in nurturing innovation ecosystems in higher education. At CMRU, our IIC is active year-round, conducting ideation sessions, hackathons, mentorship programmes, and innovation challenges.
Students benefit from exposure to national innovation initiatives and direct mentorship from experts across academia and industry. The IIC also promotes awareness around intellectual property rights and connects students to the broader Indian startup network.
The I-6 innovation framework: our holistic model To
strengthen the innovation pipeline, I developed the I-6 Framework—an institutional model that brings together six essential pillars: incubation centres, design thinking projects, startup coworking spaces, mentoring outreach (including Atal Tinkering Labs), technology transfer centres, and capacity building for faculty and students.
This end-to-end framework ensures that student ideas are not just captured, but nurtured—through concept development, prototyping, IP protection and market readiness.
Aligned with the goals of NEP 2020, our innovation ecosystem builds 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication and adaptability.
Creating a pipeline of startups and changemakers
CMRU’s innovation mission aligns closely with national priorities such as Startup India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. We aim to create a generation of problem solvers and unicorn founders who contribute to India’s economic development and global standing.
At the core of this mission is a vibrant community of student innovation ambassadors who lead campus activities, mentor peers and represent CMRU on national platforms.
Our key innovation activities include ideation sessions, design thinking workshops, rapid hackathons, prototype support, and mentoring programmes with industry leaders and venture capitalists. These initiatives provide students with a hands-on innovation experience that encourages resilience, iteration and growth.
Student-led innovations: diverse, relevant, impactful
Several successful innovations have emerged from CMRU’s ecosystem. These include:
– An RFID logger with Google Sheets integration for data automation
– An autonomous intra-campus delivery rover using optical computer vision
– Momentous, a student-founded startup incubated at the Maker’s Space
– A piezoelectric mat for Bharatanatyam training, which gamifies classical dance education
Each of these innovations reflects our commitment to interdisciplinary thinking, cultural relevance and scalable technology.
A forward-looking vision for inclusive innovation
As India redefines its higher education priorities, CMRU continues to lead with a vision of inclusive, scalable and entrepreneurial innovation. Our design thinking-based approach, supported by strategic partnerships and policy alignment, is helping shape a new generation of innovators, thinkers and builders.
We are not just creating products—we are shaping people. Empathetic leaders, critical thinkers and resilient entrepreneurs who are ready to meet the challenges of the future.