Techfest

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Techfest, IIT Bombay
Logo of Techfest, IIT Bombay
Status	active
Genre	Non-Profit Student Organisation
Date(s)	17–19 December 2024
Frequency	Annually
Venue	IIT, Bombay
Location(s)	Mumbai, India
Coordinates	19°08′01.09″N 72°54′55.29″E / 19.1336361°N 72.9153583°E / 19.1336361; 72.9153583
Country	India
Years active	28 years
Patron(s)	UNICEF, UNESCO, Centre for environment education(CEE) and South Asia Youth Environment Network(SAYEN)
Organised by	Student community of IIT Bombay
Website	www.techfest.org Techfest on Twitter

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.^[1]

Started in 1998 with the aim of providing a platform for the Indian student community to develop and showcase their projects,^[2] with a footfall of 1.8 lakhs in its latest edition.^[3][4][5] 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.^[6]

Techfest 2019-20 Under the social initiative BOLT, Techfest campaigned to spread awareness on the dangers of osteoporosis in adults by setting up Bone Health check up by setting up 50+ camps across the country and conducting 10K+ free bone health check ups for free^[7]

Techfest 2020-21 was based on the theme "An Elysian Singularity", a future where continuous advancement has launched the world into an age of bold innovation with uncontrollable growth, almost leading to a technological singularity point. This edition was held completely online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It featured lectures from prominent personalities like the 14th Dalai Lama, Malcolm Turnbull, Rana Daggubati and Andrew Ng. Virtual Industry Visits, aimed at giving viewers a first-hand experience of what happens inside leading industries, were also introduced this year. Techfest 2020-21 organized 10+ fully online mental health sessions with 90+ professional counsellors from across the country as a part of its social initiative HOPE, one of the country's most extensive initiatives on Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention.^[8]

Techfest was held in 2022-23.^[9]

Techfest is among the very few student organizations to have received patronage from United Nations organisations. Among its various recognitions, prominent ones are listed below:

• UNESCO^[10] for promotion of technical knowledge
• UNICEF^[10] for the social causes taken up through Ideate competitions and other initiatives over the years
• Centre for environment education("CEE")^[11] and (SAYEN)^[11] for its approach and initiatives towards environment change
• Techfest has also been nominated for the Times of India "Social Impact Award 2015" for its unique social campaigns in the field of child education, women empowerment, encouraging Indo-Pak relations and creating awareness
• Techfest, IIT Bombay in association with SoULS, IIT Bombay created a Guinness World Record for the "most LED lights lit simultaneously" on 2 October 2018

Techfest is an entirely student-organized body. The core committee has 24 members: two Overall Coordinators at the helm and 22 managers who overlook all the aspects and activities of Techfest. Each Manager has a portfolio assigned to them which can be broadly categorized into two sections - administration and events. The administrative portfolios primarily include tasks like accounts, infrastructure, marketing, hospitality, publicity and media along with helping with the events. The events portfolios include responsibility for each of the numerous happenings and initiatives are taken by Techfest each year. A team of over 800 Coordinators and Organizers along with 2500+ College ambassadors works in sync with the managers to execute and implement the activities of the festival. Each manager has their own team of coordinators and organisers, who together take care of every little detail of the department and ensure that the ideas of the team are executed smoothly.^[12]

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Competitions serve as the backbone of Techfest by fulfilling its motto of spreading Science and Technology. Techfest 2023 Competitions saw a total participation of over 35,000 from various parts of the globe. With participation from more than 20 countries, this segment has evolved to become a tremendous stage for international exchange. Young enthusiasts from all over the world come together at this magnificent platform to prove their mettle at the vanguard of technical competitions. Competitions of Techfest, IIT Bombay, covers various genres under this segment like Competitive Coding under International Coding Challenge and World Programming Championship, Game Development under Game of Codes, Aerospace under Drone Challenge and Boeing Aeromodelling Competition, Aquatics under Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Challenge (AUV), RC Nitro Buggy Car under International Full Throttle,^[14] Robotics under Robowars, Cozmoclench, National Challenge, Blixathon International Robotics Challenge and International Micromouse Challenge,^[15][14] Gaming under E-sports, Structural Engineering under Crane-o-Mania. Techfest organized a plethora of online competitions for participants around the globe. These explored different genres like AI/ML under Datamatics Hackathon, Cashflow Modelling and Hack AI, Software Development under Mernifier and Coddecode, and application-based competitions like Atom-Quest, Dronelog and Certi-Tech. Ideate competitions, namely Urban Futurism, Tech Aid and Task Whiz, which require participants to come up with innovative solutions to real-world problems, were also conducted.^[14][16]

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)^[10] 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.^[17]

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^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.

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^[14] Robowars is the grandest competition in the entire Techfest. It has been one of the biggest crowd-pullers in recent years, with an audience of 7500+ in Techfest 2023. In the starting years, there were two weight categories, 120 lbs and 30 lbs. Throughout the years, Robowars has seen mass participation and a massive crowd watching this event. Eventually, the event became The International Robowars^[14] in Techfest 2017-18. The International Robowars has been hosted by the renowned Battlebots announcer, Faruq Tauheed in Techfest 2022 and by renowned Indian model, actor, voice artist, TV presenter, and ^[18] anchor Gagandeep Sayal in the last year. Techfest saw a participation of more than 450 participants, with Team UARRIOR (World No.1 Team at the time) also participating in the event. Also, a new weight category of 8 kg was introduced in 2019, followed by the introduction of the latest weight category of 30 kg, which was introduced in 2022. The current champion for the International Robowars in the 60 kg category was team Prixx. The International Robowars boasts a humongous prize money of 1.3 million. For the first time in its history, The International Robowars was broadcast on Jio TV. Currently, the Champions are Riobotz(Brazil) and BlankaBotz holds the record for winning The Robowars Title the most number of times (3). The 2024 edition of International Robowars at Techfest, IIT Bombay marked a major milestone in expanding the global reach of combat robotics. The event featured participation from 50+ national teams and 10+ international teams, making it one of the most diverse and competitive editions to date. This year, International Zonal Robowars were conducted across five countries to serve as official qualifying rounds for the main event. Notably, 2024 marked the first-ever zonal event in North America, held in Mexico, further extending the competition’s geographic footprint. These zonals enabled top-performing international teams to earn direct entry into the grand finale at IIT Bombay. Finalists from the zonal rounds competed alongside leading Indian teams in a specially designed battle arena. The event drew massive attention, attracting an audience of over 15k spectators across two days of the festival. This enthusiastic turnout reinforced Robowars' reputation as a premier attraction at Techfest and a leading combat robotics event in Asia.^{[citation needed]}

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Technoholix^[19] consists of techno-cultural nights held over 3 days. Technoholix hosts a plethora of events like EDM nights, Laser shows, UV light shows, pyrotechnics, Tron dances, Acrobatics and Virtual 3D holographic displays for an ecstatic audience of over 20,000. Started in 2000, Technoholix has witnessed several bedazzling performances over the years by artists from around the globe like DJ Marnik, Danny Avila, AFISHAL, Julius Nox, Sonakshi Sinha, Arjun Kapoor and last year we had Krispie, Oxlo and MADDIX as the Headliner for the EDM Night, the producer of world-famous remixes like Prophecy, Smash the Beat, and 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝗮𝗼.The finale event of Technohlix, which was earlier organized in the Open Air Theatre, was moved to the Gymkhana Grounds of IIT Bombay in 2018, to throw the largest laser show ever in India. The finale event of Technohlix happened in the Open Air Theatre of IIT Bombay Gymkhana in a one-of-a-kind 360-degree techno-cultural stage boasting a central stage with the audience in all of its periphery. Justifying its name, Technoholix promises to fill the veins of the audience with adrenaline and leave a look of awe on the faces of thousands.

Exhibitions provide an ideal platform to reduce the gap between technology in today's world and the common man in India. Every year Exhibition has mesmerized people by presenting technological avant-garde in the world. It helps young minds to broaden their vision and to update their tech know-how. The exhibitions segment of Techfest started out in 2004 with Indian Navy Exhibitions feeling the need to motivate young Indian minds towards military research. It was re-initiated in 2006 with a plethora of exhibitions. Welcome To Mars was the first International Exhibition from Arizona State University and NASA . While 2007 witnessed a massive increase in the number of International Exhibits of which the most prominent were Mind Reading Machines and the life-size exhibits of Pterosaur, 2008 had the first interactive exhibit in Techfest, the Shadow Dexterous Hand. In 2009 an Amphibot capable of moving without any limbs or wheels, face detection software on a robot security platform, rudders and flight control mechanics from Airbus, and DRDO's mobile autonomous launcher BrahMos were the major attractions. Alice, the first robot smaller than a ping-pong ball and eye-writer writing by eye movement was the focus of Techfest Exhibitions 2010. Da Vinci Robotics Exhibitions conceptualised by Leonardo da Vinci, Open vibe- the brain–computer interface which shows brain activity, PR2 Robot, Eccerobot 2- an anthropometric robot acting as a human replica were the cynosure of all eyes in 2011. Techfest 2013^[20] saw the NAO Robot^[21] from France, exhibits from the MIT Media Lab like the EyeNetra, and the HIRO robot. Exhibitions at Techfest 2014 witnessed the BINA48,^[22] Fumanoids (Germany), Solo wheel (United States), Cubli (Vertex balancing cube, EPFL Switzerland) and many other exhibits. Techfest 2015 featured innovative Sepios which mimic swimming through proper fins. Bionic Hand,^[3][23] an artificial bionic prosthesis using 3D printing technology. Some other exhibits at display were Beach Bot, Teegi, Tigers Mannheim, Thomas Li Vigni and many more.^[24] Jinn Bot (robot which express moods such as joy and anger), Dutch Nao Team exhibits from BRAC University, ETH Zurich were among the highlights of Exhibitions in 2016. Following the Space Expedition theme, Exhibitions in Techfest 2016-17 showcased ISRO prototypes, Advanced Military Weaponry, Bebionic hand with Techconnect, an exclusive showcase of IIT Bombay research projects and Exhibits.

Techfest 2016 also witnessed an Auto-show as a part of exhibitions showcasing BMW i8, BMW M4, Hayabusa, Ducati, Triumph Bikes and many more. Techfest 2017-18 provided unparalleled variety and gave an amazing experience by showcasing Team Puli (Hungary), KinoMo (UK), GBL robotics (United States), Mini Robot (Korea), Synergy Moon, Neurosky, Universal Robots, Nao (Softbank). 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,^[25] 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;^[26] 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.

The past speakers at Techfest have included the following:

• The 14th Dalai Lama^[27] (Nobel Laureate, Peace)
• APJ Abdul Kalam^[28] (former President of India and founder of India's missile program)
• Tarja Halonen^[29] first woman President of Finland)
• Lars Rasmussen (co-founder, Google Maps)^[30]
• Vint Cerf^[28] (one of the fathers of Internet)
• Ada Yonath^[3] (Nobel Laureate in chemistry)
• C.N.R. Rao^[22] (Bharat Ratna 2013-highest civilian award of India)
• Bjarne Stroustrup^[28] (inventor of C++)
• Amartya Sen^[20] (Nobel Laureate in economics)
• Dr. K. Radhakrishnan^[31] (ex-chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation)
• Eric Klinker^[32] (CEO, Bit Torrent)
• Serge Haroche^[33] (Nobel Laureate in physics)

Techfest 2020-21 introduced a new event series known as the Virtual Industry Visits to engage the audience by giving them a virtual tour of India’s industrial megacentres through online platforms. More than 3500 participants got to experience a tour of the cutting-edge manufacturing facilities and witness the ultra-modern instruments and equipment at the factories as expert professionals meticulously guided them step by step through each process. Students and professionals alike participated in thousands to gain knowledge about the processes carried out in complex plants from Industry experts themselves. The Virtual Industry Visits were facilitated by reputed companies like Mercedes Benz, Larsen and Toubro, Dabur, Reliance, Bosch, Godrej, Nestle, Johnson & Johnson, ArcelorMittal, UltraTech Cement, Tata Projects, Indigrid, thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (India) and Thermax.

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.

Techfest has had a rich history in the space of initiatives for social & public causes. Several of the competitions each year have science problem statements intertwined with environmental sustainability, rural development, green energy & more. However, a clear distinction between these initiatives from other activities of the 25-year-old fest was brought about in the 2007-2008 edition through their campaign on Global Warming. Each edition since then has covered things ranging from high-output initiatives on women empowerment, free health checkups, and osteoporosis to awareness-raising initiatives on anti-smoking, financial literacy, RTI, Diabetes, physical fitness, mental health & many more. Two of the highest impact social initiatives by Techfest so far have been-

• SSAP - Student Solar Ambassador Program conducted workshops across all states of India where over 1,25,000 students were trained to assemble their solar lamps and became Solar Ambassadors. This initiative also holds the Guinness World Record for the most number of LED lights lit simultaneously.
• SHE - Sanitary Health Education was a social initiative focused on emancipating the taboo of menstruation in India by conducting hygiene management sessions and distributing 200,000+ sanitary napkins in 25+ villages.

The 25th edition of Techfest witnessed social initiatives like Drishti, Saksham, and Nidaan. Which had 50 myth-buster sessions spreading awareness about eye donation to 1,00,000 people & got 500 pledges signed in a single day under the initiative Drishti. Also, the initiative Saksham promoted the betterment of differently-abled people through 50 awareness sessions reaching 43,000 people and associating with 15 prominent NGOs under it. Moreover, the initiative Nidaan to spread awareness about the treatment of breast cancer by conducting 50 sessions and reaching 13,000 people in association with 10 NGOs

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.

Ozone or 'On the spot zone' comprises the amusement part of Techfest. It is a place to hang around for exciting games and astounding street performances. Started in 2006, it has proved to be an integral part of Techfest in the past few years. Through Ozone, Techfest has brought in various entertainment-based technical gadgetry for the first time in India, be it Lazer tag (2010), VirtuSphere (2011), Silent Disco (2013),^[34] F1 Simulator (2014)^[22] or Oculus Rift (2015), Augmented Wall (2017, China),^[3] Beat Saber (2018) 9-D simulator, most powerful realism(2019). Events like Junkyard Wars, Paintball, Water Zorbing, 6D-XD Simulator, Flying Simulator, Go Karting, ATV rides and the Gaming Zone help keep the audience engrossed when they are not involved in the grueling competitions and workshops.

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Techfest has hosted an International Summit on topics like Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things, over the years. An International summit was held in Techfest for two days. It focused on understanding how the business will be affected by these technologies which are rapidly adopted all over the world and how professionals may benefit from it as major technology companies and startups are embracing these strategies. The Inaugural Summit brought together corporates, entrepreneurs and investors alike, under one roof, to explore technologies like AI or IoT from business point of view. Professionals from various IT/Software cells and techies of various organizations across all strata of industry were invited to the summit. It allowed one to hear from the stalwarts of the industry and get the real picture in India and the World.

Techfest previous editions of summit consisted of panel discussions, workshops and keynote by speakers like Mr. Bob Frankston,^[35] 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,^[36] 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.^[37] 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.^[38]

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 V. Acharya, Abhishek Kothari, Yashish Dahiya, Ruchir Swarup, Ganesh Rengaswamy, Priya Sharma, Arun Kumar, Samy Karim, Rajeev Agrawal, Vaibhav Garg.

^[39] 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^[40][41] 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,^[42] 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.

Workshops at Techfest, IIT Bombay play a vital role in connecting students with the latest advancements in technology through hands-on learning experiences. Conducted under the guidance of industry professionals and academicians, these workshops attract a large number of participants due to their high-quality content and practical approach.

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.

Techfest 2021-22 kick-started a new pan India initiative, namely Virtual Ed-Conclave. This two-day conclave consists of various keynote sessions on different departments followed by Q&A from renowned professors, Deans, and Head of Department from prominent IITs. This event aimed to make freshly JEE qualified students aware of the different departments IITs offer, helping them make an informed decision in choosing their technical stream. With an annual reach of over 50,000, Ed-Conclave^[44] helps students all over India to become aware about the whereabouts of various engineering fields and hence make knowledgeable decision for their future.

Prominent speakers at Ed-Conclave include:

• Prof. Chebrolu (Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Bombay)
• Prof. Arghya Deb (Associate Dean (Infrastructure), IIT Kharagpur and Professor of Civil Engineering)
• Prof. Shantanu Roy (Dean of Academics, IIT Delhi and Professor of Chemical Engineering)
• Prof. Ravi Kumar NV (Head of the Department, Metallurgical & Materials Engineering at IIT Madras)
• Prof. Amit Agrawal (Dean of International Affairs, IIT Bombay and Institute chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering)
• Prof. Ameeya K. Nayak (Associate Professor of Mathematics, IIT Roorkee)
• Prof. VC Srivastava (Head of the Department, Chemical Engineering at IIT Roorkee)
• Prof. SK Mathur (Associate Professor of Economics at IIT Kanpur)
• Prof. Preeti Ranjan Panda (Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Delhi)
• Prof. Deepankar Choudhary (Head of the Department, Civil Engineering at IIT Bombay | Organising Vice-Chairman, JEE-Advanced 2015 and Founding Member, JOSAA)
• Prof. Sanjeeva Srivastava (Professor of Biosciences and Bioengineering at IIT Bombay)
• Prof. Nagarajan R (Head of the Department, Chemical Engineering at IIT Madras)
• Prof. Suhas Joshi (Dean Alumni and Corporate Relations, IIT Bombay and Rahul Bajaj Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering)
• Prof. Dipanwita Roy (Head of the Department, Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Kharagpur)
• Prof. Surjya K Pal (Associate Dean (Alumni Affairs), IIT Kharagpur and Professor of Mechanical Engineering)
• Prof. U Bhandarkar(Associate Dean R&D, IIT Bombay and Professor of Mechanical Engineering)
• Prof. Anidhya Dutta(Professor at Chemistry Department, IIT Bombay)
• Prof. Rajesh Zele (Professor of Electrical Engineering at IIT Bombay)
• Prof. Parag Bhargava (Professor of Metallurgy and Material Sciences at IIT Bombay)
• Prof. Rajkumar S. Pant (Professor of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Bombay)
• Prof. D N Singh (Professor of Civil Engineering at IIT Bombay)
• Prof. G P Raja Sekhar (Professor of Mathematics and Computing at IIT Kharagpur)

Techfest receives extensive coverage in print, television, digital as well as online media. Techfest has had Hindustan Times, DNA, Times of India, Indian Express, Maharashtra Times, Navbharat Times, CNBC, Times Internet, Discovery Channel, Big RTL Thrill, India Today, Big CBS Prime, 93.5 RED FM and 92.7 BIG FM as its media partners. In the past, consulates and embassies of Norway, Mexico, Luxembourg, Italy, Netherlands, Israel, Germany, Australia, Austria, Hungary, South Korea, France, Spain, Canada and Indonesia have supported Techfest in its endeavours. In terms of industrial and corporate associations, Techfest receives sponsorship from a wide range of sectors such as Telecom, PSUs, Banking, Crypto, Fintech, FMCG, Automobile, Electronics. Techfest has associated with top firms such as Marsh McLennan, State Bank of India, Amazon Prime Video, Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd,^[45] which had the national launch of its 4G Free Wifi in Techfest 2014, Google, Microsoft, Intel, Larsen & Toubro, GE, IBM, NTPC, PepsiCo, Nestle, RuPay, WD and many more such sponsors.^[46] Organisations such as DAAD, Alliance Française, British Council, Goethe Institute, German Centre for Research and Innovation, Polish Institute, Swissnex and India-Sri Lanka Foundation have also partnered with Techfest for the promotion of Science and Technology, education and cultural exchange. Social initiatives of Techfest have received the support of esteemed NGOs such as CRY, Smile Foundation, Khushi Life Learning, Befrienders India, Pratham, Muktangan, Suicide Prevention India Foundation, Garbage Concern Welfare Society, Indian Cancer Society, Laadli, Akshara ^[47] and The Candle Project. With diverse participation, Techfest is a very good place for engaging and interacting with the youth of the country.^[48]