27 February 2025, New Delhi – vivo, the innovative global smartphone brand, is thrilled to announce the tremendous response to the third edition of ‘vivo Ignite’, which has received over 37,000 registrations from 9,000 schools across more than 660 districts, covering over 85% of India’s total districts. Among the 112 aspirational districts defined by NITI Aayog, 80 districts have participated, highlighting the initiative’s deep reach and impact in empowering young innovators and providing them with opportunities to participate in such platforms across India.

Students from grades 8-12 submitted over 5,600 innovative project ideas as individual/ group entries under the ‘Tech for Good’ theme, showcasing their problem-solving skills and commitment to social impact aligned with United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The overwhelming participation highlights India’s youth’s creativity and passion for technology. Notably, this year’s participation has doubled compared to last year, significantly expanding the initiative’s reach and impact.

The North Indian region emerged as a key hub for young innovators, contributing 41% of total registrations. Technology, Agriculture, and Climate Change were the most popular categories, collectively accounting for 38% of total idea submissions, reflecting students’ strong and growing inclination toward solving real-world challenges through innovation.

Expressing excitement over the overwhelming response, Geetaj Channana, Head of Corporate Strategy at vivo India, said, “The response to the third edition of vivo Ignite: T&I Initiative is a powerful reflection of the growing spirit of innovation among young minds in India. In just three years, we have seen participation soar—from 3,000+ registrations and 1,100+ submissions in the first edition to over 37,000 registrations and more than 5,600 submissions this year.

This growth is a testament to the increasing enthusiasm for using technology to drive social change. With our reach now extending to 9,000+ schools across 660+ districts, and participation doubling from last year, we are proud to see so many students eager to turn their ideas into real-world solutions.”

He also added, “This initiative is more than just a competition; it’s a movement, empowering students with the tools, mentorship, and platform needed to transform ideas into real-world solutions. We are grateful to our esteemed partners, including CIET-NCERT, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, UN Global Compact Network India, and Shooting Stars Foundation, for their invaluable support in empowering these young innovators. Together, we are shaping a brighter tomorrow where technology serves a greater purpose.”

By providing a national platform for students to ideate, innovate, and address critical societal issues, vivo is shaping the next generation of problem-solvers through vivo Ignite. The initiative encourages students to harness technology for good, focusing on Software-Tech Innovations, Agriculture & Climate Change, and Community Development Innovations—all aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The competition unfolds in three stages, ensuring that students receive the right mentorship and exposure throughout their journey.

• Stage 1: Students submitted an image along with a brief description of their unique idea, which must not have been previously recognized. This phase ended on February 17, 2025.
• Stage 2: The top 200 zonal winners—50 from each zone (North, South, East, and West)—will be shortlisted and announced on February 28, 2025. These young innovators will participate in workshops and receive one-to-one mentoring. Shortlisted students will then submit a video explaining their working model/prototype and provide details of the project in a Project Display Board format. The Top 10 ideas will proceed to the Stage 3.
• Stage 3: Participants of the Top 10 ideas will receive further mentoring and workshop sessions from IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation to refine their prototype. They will present their final prototypes at the Grand Finale on June 7-8, 2025.

To ensure wide outreach, cutting-edge mentorship and expert guidance, vivo India has partnered with leading institutions including Central Institute of Educational Technology – NCERT (CIET-NCERT), IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation – Innovation Hub of IIT Madras, and UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) as knowledge partners. This collaboration bridges academia, industry, and young innovators, ensuring students receive top-tier mentorship, access to advanced resources, and real-world insights to refine and scale their projects.