Student innovations showcased at IEDC Summit, Start-up expo in Thrissur

THRISSUR:
Students from engineering colleges across Kerala presented a clutch of innovations aimed at addressing practical challenges in healthcare, campus services, navigation and agriculture, as KSUM held the Start-Up Expo at the IEDC Summit 2026.

The expo, hosted as part of IEDC Summit ,one of Asia’s largest student and youth entrepreneurship gatherings, was held by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) at Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology, Kodakara.

The event featured projects developed by students, with several of them focusing on solutions that could be adapted for wider use.

Students of UKF College of Engineering and Technology, Kollam showcased Campus Mithra, a campus assistance system designed to help visitors find their way around an institution and access information on departments, admissions and other facilities.

The system uses Google Maps-based navigation parameters and can also display college-related information and advertisements. The team has developed an updated version with a robot named Lily that can interact with users through voice commands.

A sanitary pad vending machine, designed to dispense pads on insertion of a Rs 5 coin, was also presented as part of the project, said Akshai Anil, a member of the Campus Mithra team.

Campus Compass, developed by students of Christ College of Engineering, Irinjalakuda, is designed to help visitors navigate large campuses and event venues. Integrated with the venue map feature of the IEDC Summit application, the system provides information on event locations, timings, food courts and registration status. Its navigation feature directs users to specific locations within the campus, said Maria Shiju.

Healthcare-focused innovations were also among the exhibits. Lifora Diagnosis, developed by students of Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology, Thrissur presented a system for monitoring parameters associated with peritoneal dialysis.

P. Aishwarya, a member of the Lifora Diagnosis team, explained that the device measures the turbidity, pH and flow of peritoneal fluid and sends the readings to the cloud through ThingSpeak. The system is intended to enable doctors to monitor changes remotely and identify possible signs of infection.

HEKA FLO showcased equipment for respiratory support, including Bubble CPAP systems used for neonates with breathing difficulties. The system maintains positive airway pressure to help prevent lung collapse. The company also demonstrated equipment supporting high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy, with different cannula sizes suited to patients and flow requirements.

The expo also featured Adam’s Mushrooms, with its brand Grow the Funguy, from Koratty in Thrissur. The venture offers mushroom cultivation products, including pellets, seeds and covers, besides fresh mushrooms and value-added products such as powders and tinctures. It also provides assistance in setting up mushroom cultivation rooms for new farmers, said Sree Lakshmi C.S.

The projects showcased at the expo covered areas, such as digital campus services, healthcare technology, agriculture and consumer products, reflecting the range of projects being developed through the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (IEDC) ecosystem.

The Start-Up Expo formed part of the two-day IEDC Summit 2026 being held at Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology, bringing together student innovators, aspiring entrepreneurs, mentors and industry representatives.