Techfest, Asia's largest science and technology festival, 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.
History and growth
Techfest 1998 marked the inception of Techfest, the annual science and technology festival of IIT Bombay. It set the broad outlines of the festival with competitions, lecture series, workshops, and exhibitions, which have since become its core features. Entrepreneurship also made appearances in the 1999 and 2000 editions. The entertainment segment, called Technoholix, debuted during these years and featured technological shows and on-the-spot activities.https://example.com/techfest-history
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, an open innovation platform, was also introduced.https://example.com/prayaas
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 disabled), 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 2023–24 had the theme "The Mystical Realm" and welcomed distinguished guests including S. Somanath, Akash Ambani, Taro Kono, and Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy. The edition was marked by a gripping Defense Symposium that put the L-70 Gun and DRDO's DAKSH MINI on public display, alongside thrilling international drone racing. It also made history as the venue for India's debut 360-degree EDM night.
Techfest 2024–25 had the theme "Sustainnovative Sentience" and drew luminaries such as Dr. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, N.V. Ramana, Jeet Adani, and Jay Kotak. The festival made headlines with India's first-ever showcase of the Unitree G1 humanoid robot and delighted crowds with Japan's Robo DJ. International Robowars returned with full force, and a high-profile defense symposium brought together India's top military chiefs on a single stage.
Techfest 2025–26 had the theme "A Simulated Paradigm" and featured an exceptional lineup including Shri Nitin Gadkari, N.R. Narayana Murthy, General Anil Chauhan, and Dr. V. Narayanan. Its centerpiece was India's first-ever Space Symposium, where the Gaganyaan astronauts made a landmark appearance. The debut Global Humanoid Conclave spotlighted the Unitree G1 robot, international Robowars thrilled audiences once again, and an official Pokémon Fiesta Pop-up rounded out the edition.
Patronages, awards and recognitions 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 for promotion of technical knowledge UNICEF for the social causes taken up through Ideate competitions and other initiatives over the years Centre for environment education("CEE") and (SAYEN) 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
Structure and organisation
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.
Events
Lectures Lecture Series is one of the flagship events of Techfest, offering attendees a unique opportunity to gain knowledge and inspiration from renowned dignitaries from across the globe, who share their ideas, experiences, insights, and life learnings on the grounds of IIT Bombay. With speakers and participants from 20+ countries, 200+ lectures conducted over the years, and an annual footfall of 5K+, the series continues to inspire and engage thousands every year.
The past speakers at Techfest have included the following:
The 14th Dalai Lama (Nobel Laureate, Peace) APJ Abdul Kalam (former President of India) Amartya Sen (Nobel Laureate, Economics) Ada Yonath (Nobel Laureate, Chemistry) Serge Haroche (Nobel Laureate, Physics) Leland H. Hartwell (Nobel Laureate, Physiology or Medicine) Vint Cerf (father of the Internet) Bjarne Stroustrup (inventor of C++) Tarja Halonen (first woman President of Finland) Lars Rasmussen (co-founder, Google Maps) N. R. Narayana Murthy (Founder, Infosys) C.N.R. Rao (Bharat Ratna 2013) Nitin Gadkari (Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, India) General Anil Chauhan (Chief of Defence Staff, India) Dr. K. Radhakrishnan (former Chairman, ISRO) Dr. S. Somanath (former Chairman, ISRO) Akash Ambani (Chairman, Reliance Jio) Jeet Adani (Director, Adani Airports & Adani Digital Labs) Eric Klinker (CEO, BitTorrent) Gp. Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla (Gaganyaan astronaut; second Indian in space) Gp. Capt. Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair (Gaganyaan astronaut) Gp. Capt. Angad Pratap (Gaganyaan astronaut)
International Exhibitions