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Techfest is the annual science and technology festival of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, consisting of social initiatives and outreach programs throughout the year.
Started in 1998 with the aim of providing a platform for the Indian student community to develop and showcase their projects, with a footfall of 1.8 lakhs in its latest edition. The activities culminate in a large three-day event on the campus of IIT Bombay which attracts people from all over the world, including students, academics, and other members of the general public.
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Techfest 2001–2002 saw the inclusion of department-based events like Yantriki, Chemsplash and Last Straw. Students from G H Raisoni College of Engineering received the Engineering Excellence Award for best design. The award-winning team included Mr. Amit Shankar Choudhary, Mr. Fahad Azad, and Mr. Bodhisatta Ganguly from GHRCE, Nagpur.
Techfest 2002–2003 launched the Techfest Trophy to increase competition engagement. Colleges from across India participated to win the coveted trophy.
Techfest 2003–2004 marked a milestone with the introduction of the International Machine Design Contest – Cliffhanger. It also saw India’s first hosting of the robotics competition Micromouse. Teams from Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Singapore took part.
Techfest 2004–2005 introduced problem-based competitions like Survivor and social-impact projects like Drishti, in association with the National Association for the Blind.
Techfest 2006 shifted focus from pure engineering to applied technology. The new segment E-Rustique had problem statements aiming at rural innovation.
Techfest 2006–2007 introduced Nexus, a workshop-plus-competition module that took robotics to cities beyond Mumbai.
Techfest 2007–2008 expanded Nexus to 7 cities: Indore, Calicut, Jaipur, New Delhi, Pune, Surat, and Mumbai. It also launched a campaign on global warming.
Techfest 2008–2009 introduced iNexus, expanding Nexus internationally to Sri Lanka, UAE, and Denmark. The finalists from these countries were flown to India. Prayaas
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Techfest 2009–2010 introduced Scintillations, a segment of night exhibitions and shows. Exhibitors included ISRO, Indian Navy, and NDMA.
Techfest 2010–2011 added Crossroads, a street entertainment zone. Events included street magic and stunt shows. Technoholix featured the world’s best Double Dutch crew, and lectures included Harold Kroto and Richard Stallman.
Techfest 2011–2012 featured the Indo-Pak peace initiative Ummeed-e-Milaap. WAVE-India promoted electric vehicle awareness through a 2500+ km road trip. Lecturers included Venki Ramakrishnan and Karlheinz Brandenburg. Exhibits included Nao Robot and Crazy File.
Techfest 2012–2013 was graced by Amartya Sen, Ei-ichi Negishi, and Rakesh Sharma. The International Robotics Challenge saw participation from 8 countries. TechOlympics was launched. Initiatives like Green Campus Challenge (750 colleges) and Give-A-Coin were widely appreciated.
Techfest 2013–2014 saw a record participation of 1.35 lakh. The lecture series included C.N.R. Rao, Pranav Mistry, and Kiran Bedi. Technoholix premiered a 3D projection play. The anti-smoking campaign I SMOKE entered the Limca Book of Records. Reliance Jio launched 4G services at Techfest.
Techfest 2014–2015 had a footfall of 1.45 lakh and lectures by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Bjarne Stroustrup, and Vint Cerf. Initiatives were nominated for the TOI Social Impact Awards. Campaigns included Smart City Challenge and ASK, promoting the RTI Act.
Techfest 2015–2016 recorded the highest footfall of 1.65 lakh. Notable speakers were Serge Haroche, Eric Klinker, and K. Radhakrishnan. New campaigns included Recycle, promoting fitness and environment, and Internet for All, for digital literacy in partnership with NIELIT.
Techfest 2016–2017, themed "A Space Expedition", featured Rakesh Sharma, Bruce Allen, and Mark Papermaster. It hosted World MUN with 525 delegates. Social initiatives included CURED? (diabetes awareness), Save The Souls (animal testing petition), and IAmPower (girls in STEM).
Techfest 2017–2018 had the theme "Digitalization, Sustainability and Biotechnology", with 1.75 lakh participants. Highlights included Sophia the robot and lectures by Tanmay Bakshi, Manohar Parrikar, and Jayanth Sinha. Initiatives included SHE (menstrual health) and Nirbhaya (women’s self-defence workshops).
Techfest 2018–2019 followed the theme "A Timeless Lapse". The 14th Dalai Lama and Simon Taufel delivered lectures. Under the Student Solar Ambassador Program, 1.25 lakh students built solar lamps. A Guinness World Record was set for most LED lights lit. SPEAK promoted mental health awareness.
Techfest 2019–2020, themed "Da Vincian Spectacle", merged art and science. Notable speakers included Zaheer Khan, Vidya Balan, Narayan Murthy, and Tshering Tobgay. Campaigns included IUnderstand (financial literacy) and BOLT (bone health awareness).
Techfest 2020–2021 was themed "An Elysian Singularity" and held fully online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers included the Dalai Lama, Malcolm Turnbull, Rana Daggubati, and Andrew Ng. Initiatives included HOPE (mental health), WeCare (animal welfare), and Virtual Industry Visits.
Techfest 2021–2022 marked the 25th edition with the theme "The Multiversal Escapade". Eminent guests included Kevin Rudd, Ehud Olmert, Scott Belsky, and Takaaki Kajita. New initiatives included Nidaan (breast cancer awareness), Saksham (for differently abled), and Drishti (eye donation awareness).
Techfest 2022–2023 had the theme “The Submerged Sojourn”. Eminent personalities such as Tarja Halonen, Kathryn Leuders, Suresh Prabhu and Lars Rasmussen attended. Highlights included India's first-ever consumer 5G test by Jio, a Drone Light Show, and the launch of the Drone Racing League.
Techfest also organizes competitions for school kids to encourage them to explore the field of science and technology. Competitions like Techfest Olympiads (Online as well as Offline ), and Innovation Challenge were conducted in 2023 which aimed at promoting innovation and creativity in young minds. In the 27th edition of Techfest, 25+ brainstorming competitions were conducted in different modes, focused on solving real-world problems, like TIH-IoT, Playto Competition, and many more.
Furthermore, marking a significant milestone, the algorithmic trading competition - AlgoNinja was conducted for the first time catering to quant enthusiasts across the country featuring cash prize of over 1 Million INR. This three-stage competition, in association with FinDoc, started from the ideation stage where each team presented their strategies and objectives. The competition concluded at Techfest in IIT Bombay, where finalists’ trading algorithms were judged by an expert panel based on their returns, volatility, robustness, and practicality
The International Robotics Challenge (IRC) used to be an international competition, which had participation from over 12 countries. The elimination rounds are held in the respective countries and the finals are held at Techfest. IRC has seen participation from France, Russia, Sweden, South Africa, Egypt, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Techfest International Coding Challenge also saw participation from different countries.
Drone Racing League went International for the first time in India at Techfest 2023 including participation of Killian Rousseau from France, who had been two-times World Cup champion and 2022 World Games winner . Year after year, Techfest continues to push the limits of what can be achieved in the realm of technology, serving as a catalyst for inspiring the upcoming generation of pioneers and inventors.
In addition to the list of other competitions, the zonal competitions at Techfest, named Technorion included Six nationwide zonal centers as Jaipur, Nagpur, Bhopal, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad competing in robotics and coding competitions namely Meshmerize, CoDecode, Cozmo Clench, and Techfest Olympiads held especially for school students around the country.
Technorion 2022 went International wherein we had International Technorion in Nepal in association with Advanced Robotics Club - ARC, Nepal, in Madagascar in association with STEM4GOOD Madagascar, and in Bangladesh in association with DUET, Bangladesh. The winners from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Madagascar then represented their nation at Techfest from 16–18 December
Techfest International Model United Nations (MUN) was launched with the aim of spreading political awareness on International affairs. Earlier held under the name of Techfest International Model United Nations until 2014, this competition was relaunched in 2016 as Techfest World Model United Nations (TWMUN). Techfest World Model United Nations (TWMUN) witnesses over 500 delegates from international universities/schools of over 20 countries, coming together to simulate various committees of the United Nations with the prime objective to innovate solutions for various international agendas and build diplomatic relations. TWMUN 2022 saw 10 different committees like WHO, UNGA, UNSC and even a special crisis committee being organized with delegates having intense discussion for a total prize worth of over 3 lakh Indian rupees. In Techfest 2020-21, the first-ever completely online TWMUN was conducted. Special committees like the Non-proliferation committee and Treaty review conference were introduced. It featured 13 committees including UNCCW, DISEC, UNCND, etc, and witnessed participation from over 450 delegates.
Smart City Challenge was an initiative inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to develop 100 new smart cities to engage the youth of the country in the development of their city and the prosperity of its citizens. The competition was designed with the vision of bringing together technology, government and the student fraternity to make the cities more efficient, sustainable, and liveable and to improve the quality of life of the rapidly urbanizing population. 1000 teams participated across India involving students from IITs, IIMs, IISER, NITs and BITS. The expert panel of over 50 mentors consists of IPS officers, IIT professors, corporate professionals, and eminent government officers. Besides the prize money of INR 5 lakhs for winners, the ideas were also forwarded to the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project Corporation.
Techfest, IIT Bombay, continues to inspire young minds by organizing competitions aimed specifically at school students, encouraging them to explore the world of science and technology. In 2024, events such as the SOF-Techfest Innovation Challenge, in collaboration with the Science Olympiad Foundation, invited students from classes 8–10 to present innovative solutions to sustainability-related challenges. Finalists were hosted at IIT Bombay and recognized with certificates, trophies, and other accolades.
Another standout was the Blix-A-Thon, a national-level robotics competition that witnessed participation from over 1,000 students across junior and senior categories. Participants engaged in interactive workshops, model-building, and arena-based challenges that fostered practical STEM skills and creative problem-solving.
In its 28th edition, Techfest conducted more than 35 competitions across diverse formats, including the Techfest Olympiad, both online and offline, which tested academic aptitude and critical thinking. These events collectively highlighted Techfest’s continued commitment to nurturing innovation, curiosity, and scientific spirit among school students.
Techfest 2016 also witnessed an Auto-show as a part of exhibitions showcasing BMW i8, BMW M4, Suzuki Hayabusa, Ducati, Triumph Bikes and many more. Techfest 2017-18 provided unparalleled variety and gave an amazing experience by showcasing Team Puli (Hungary), KinoMo (United Kingdom), GBL robotics (United States), Mini Robot (Korea), Synergy Moon, NeuroSky, Universal Robots, Nao (SoftBank Group). Techfest 2018-19 had many riveting exhibits like Android U( Hiroshi Ishiguro Lab, Japan), Furhat Robotics (Sweden), NTU Singapore, B-Human ( six times RoboCup German Open winner and 1 time RoboCup European Open winner), Skelex( Netherlands ) among many more. Techfest 2019-20 had amazing exhibits like Arm-XR to minimize the disability of specially abled humans, RoboThespian, world's first actor performer robot, PDRL, India's first indigenous air taxi and many many more. The Auto-show, as a part of international exhibitions, also showcased various cars like Porche Boxster, BMW Motorsport M5, Mercedes Benz AMG C63 and various motorbikes like Benelli TNT600, Suzuki Hayabusa, Kawasaki Ninja ZX10R, Honda Goldwing and Triumph Tiger among others. Techfest 2020-21 featured NEXTAGE, the all-in-one Dual Arm Robot designed to coexist with people by Kawada Technologies from Japan; the Nadine Social Robot, who can engage in intelligent conversation, play instruments and alter her moods; and the Daedalus an exoskeleton developed by Gravity Industries that enables humans to fly. The Virgin Hyperloop company, which is working towards commercializing high-speed transportation via hyperloop systems, and AUTOLAB’s project AlphaGarden, which attempts to find out whether AI can learn something as complex ; and then in year 2021-22, techfest featured Nino, a humanoid robot that can walk, talk, sing, and play made by Sirena Technologies, then we had Zeus, a high-functioning multi-articulating bionic hand combining ease of control; and we also had Ai-Da, a humanoid robot credited with being the first ever ultra-realistic robot artist as our some major attractions in our two years of online mode. The online exhibitions saw a viewership of more than 60K. In 2022-23, after two years of online mode, techfest came back to its offline version where we had SpaceHopper and Raptor from ETH Zurich, we also had Formula E, M8 Electro Gen 2 coming last year, then we had Unitree GO1, an intelligent bionic quadruped robot also coming. In 2023-24 captivated over 60,000 attendees with groundbreaking technological innovations. Highlights included Proto Hologram from the USA, the world's first holographic communications platform, the University of Michigan's open-source Bionic Leg, aimed at making advanced prosthetics more accessible; and ETH Zurich's Magnecko, a magnetic climbing spider robot. The Defense Expo was a major attraction, with the DRDO and Indian Army demonstrating advanced defense technologies like the Bofors Gun and L-70 Gun, while the National Security Guard (NSG) showcased their elite capabilities, underscoring the importance of technological progress in addressing real-world challenges and enhancing human capabilities. Additionally, the event featured TechConnect, an exclusive exhibition of IIT Bombay’s latest research projects. The Auto Expo was another standout, presenting the Ferrari 488 GTB, Mercedes AMG C63, BMW S1000RR, and various Kawasaki and Harley Davidson models. In Techfest 2024–25, the Exhibitions stood out as one of the major highlights, drawing large crowds with a powerful blend of global innovation, cutting-edge research, and real-world applications. One of the major highlights was the Unitree G1 Humanoid Robot (China), which impressed attendees with its advanced mobility and lifelike interaction, and was also featured in a dedicated lecture session. Other international exhibits included MindAffect (Netherlands), TerraSentia, Cadre Technologies, and Wehead (USA), as well as iSyncWave (South Korea), each presenting unique technological advancements. The Defense Expo featured cutting-edge displays from DRDO and the Indian Army, along with live K9 drills by the National Security Guard. Indian startups such as Dhruva Space, Manastu Space, and Eagle Robot Lab showcased notable innovations in aerospace and robotics. TechConnect continued to highlight IIT Bombay’s latest research. The Auto Expo was another major attraction, featuring a thrilling roadshow and, for the first time ever, vintage cars, including the Mercedes Benz 500 SL and the 1989 Mercedes 300E W124. The lineup also included a wide range of superbikes such as the Hayabusa and Harley Davidson Fat Boy—adding to the excitement and immersive experience of the festival.
Apart from the Industry Visits, Virtual Museum Visits to the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the entire world and the Museum of natural sciences, USA, which has over 1.2 million visitors annually were also organised.
Cyclothon- Pedal for the Planet is a sustainability initiative promoting cycling to reduce carbon emissions from motor vehicles. It advocates for eco-friendly transportation and sustainable living to support environmental conservation and societal well-being.
Techfest previous editions of summit consisted of panel discussions, workshops and keynote by speakers like Mr. Bob Frankston, Mr.Jeff Demain, Dr. Aloknath De, Mr. Sundara Nagalingam, Mr. Ishwar Parulkar, Mr. Rishi Bhatnagar, Mrs.Vidya Mani, Mr.Kaustubh Nande, Mr. Rafiq Somani, Mr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, Mr. Anil Mathur, Mr. Kartik Iyengar, Mr. Parvez Goiporia along with other distinguished scholars. Workshops ware conducted by Microsoft, Intel, Texas Instruments, giving hands-on approach on various applications of AI, IoT etc.
The AI Summit of Techfest 2018–19, held on 14 and 15 Dec 2018, included names like Mudit Jakhar, Vikram Vij, Sohan Maheshwar, Mohammed Saleem, Siddhi Trivedi, Rajesh Sharma, Kapil Garg, Jalaj Thanaki, Pushpak Bhattacharyya, Surya Durbha, Mudit Garg, Aseem. The people discussed the relevance of Artificial Intelligence incorporates and day-to-day life. Hands-on workshops giving a complete experience of the capabilities of AI were also conducted.
The summit of 2019-2020 was held between 3 and 5 January, was attended by names like Atul Tripathy, Atul Jalan, Uptal Chakrab0rty, Rajesh Sharma, Mudit Jakhar and Chetan Murty, the summit discussed points like Smart Mobility, Artificial Intelligence in Industries and Smart Manufacturing.
Techfest’s International Media Summit of 2020-21 was India's leading conference of acclaimed journalists and senior executives from all across the world. At the International Media Summit, topics related to the fields of Journalism and Media were discussed, which are tied closely with technology and help develop a deeper understanding of this rapidly evolving domain. It featured stalwarts of the field like Paul Pringle, Ravish Kumar, Rajdeep Sardesai, Farah Stockman, and Michael Braga.
Techfest 2021-2022 includes the first edition of the Fintech Summit, which primarily focuses on India’s Fintech Revolution, the future of money management, and reviewing banking and financial services post Covid-19. The International Fintech Summit is the ideal meeting place for facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue with power-packed networking opportunities among C-Level executives, leading industry experts, decision-makers, and policymakers from across the value chain to foster collaboration, discuss current challenges and business opportunities, develop market strategies, share knowledge and identify solutions aimed at shaping the future of Fintech. Many Fintech giants were featured like Viral Acharya, Abhishek Kothari, Yashish Dahiya, Ruchir Swarup, Ganesh Rengaswamy, Priya Sharma, Arun Kumar, Samy Karim, Rajeev Agrawal, Vaibhav Garg.
Techfest 2022-2023 included International Industry Summit, Techfest Blockchain Summit, Media summit. The International Industry Summit aimed at discussing the trends that are bringing this change and changing the consumer’s perspective to this new way of shopping. Many industrial giants like Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Naveen Munjal, V Kalyana Rama, John Crichton, Abhishek Gupta, PrasunKumar, Sandeep Karwa and Soumya Sarkar were featured. The Techfest Blockchain Summit aimed at bringing together some of the world’s leading crypto influencers, policymakers, key government delegates, media, family offices, HNIs and other curated investors, among others, to foster the crypto and blockchain community across the globe. Many blockchain giants were featured like Kunal Sanghavi, Teddy Pahagbia, Shantnoo Saxsena, Pranay Sharma, Mru Patel, Alias Ahonen, Ryan Howells, and Lokesh Rao. Techfest also conducted the Media summit where you navigate the new playbook for Media as you future-ready yourself for the post-pandemic economy. Many Media giants were featured like Avinash Panday, Smriti Mehra, Arpit Jain, Manuja Veerappa.
Over the years, Techfest has expanded its workshop offerings to include a wide range of emerging technologies. The 25th edition featured workshops on Solarizer, Python Programming, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Automobile Mechanics, Android Development, Cybersecurity, Ethical Hacking, Web Development, Amazon Web Services, Nanotechnology, Sixth Sense Technology, Embedded Systems, and Deep Learning.
In the 2022-23 edition, workshops covered topics such as Quadcopter building, Ethical Hacking, Machine Learning, Android Development, Gesture Robotics, Game Development, Crypto Trading, Solarizer, Digital Marketing, Sixth Sense Robotics, Automobile Mechanics, Data Analytics, Python, and Artificial Intelligence. These sessions were led by professionals from reputed organizations including Google, Ubisoft, WazirX, Sharedeum, and Fev.
The 2023-24 edition, held from December 27 to 29, 2023, adopted the theme " The Mystical Realm – Where Imagination Meets Reality", offering participants access to various competitions such as Cosmoclench, Meshmerize, Techfest Olympiad, and Codecode, alongside immersive workshops.
The 28th edition in 2024, held from December 17 to 19, embraced the theme " Sustainnovative Sentience", emphasizing innovation and sustainability. Workshops included Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Digital Marketing, Web Development, Ethical Hacking, Cybersecurity, and Prompt Engineering. These workshops provided certificates, interactive learning sessions, and networking opportunities for participants of all skill levels. The event also featured international Robowars, humanoid robot exhibitions, and keynote lectures from industry experts.
Apart from workshops, Techfest also organizes initiatives like the WinTech Project, aimed at fostering innovation and practical learning among students.
Prominent speakers at Ed-Conclave include:
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