Fostering transformation through Empowering GRIP — mapping, nurturing, and harnessing the creativity and innovations at the grassroots level across the entire state of Punjab.
GRIP — Grassroots Innovators of Punjab — is a flagship initiative launched by the Punjab State Innovation Council under the Department of Science Technology & Environment, Government of Punjab.
The programme is designed to map, nurture, and harness creativity and innovations at the grassroots level across Punjab. It identifies innovators — from schools, colleges, and rural communities — who might otherwise remain unrecognised, and connects them with mentorship, resources, and platforms.
GRIP reaches youth directly: visiting classrooms, conducting workshops, and exhibiting at major innovation fairs. The programme has touched students across 8 districts of Punjab with real, measurable outcomes and tangible support.
"Innovation is not only for big institutions — every student, every village problem-solver has the potential to transform society. GRIP simply gives them the platform they deserve."
GRIP is built on a clear vision and mission, backed by tangible benefits for every innovator identified across Punjab at any level.
Build a robust ecosystem where innovation is accessible to every citizen — not just urban centres, but villages, towns, and remote communities where real problems demand creative grassroots solutions.
Systematically identify innovators across Punjab, provide them with tools, mentorship, and platforms to scale their ideas into real-world solutions that create measurable social and economic impact.
Empower every innovator — student, farmer, artisan, or community member — by connecting their grassroots creativity with the institutional support of the Government of Punjab.
Selected innovators receive hands-on facilitation — mentorship from domain experts, guidance on product development, and connections to industry networks and institutions.
Outstanding innovators selected through GRIP receive cash awards to fund development of their innovations, prototypes, and proof-of-concept models — turning ideas into reality.
GRIP assists innovators in securing Intellectual Property protection and provides access to state & national level showcase platforms — giving grassroots innovations the visibility they deserve.
These actual innovations from students across Punjab demonstrate the depth of grassroots ingenuity that GRIP is designed to discover and amplify.
A tractor-operated rotary weeder designed to improve agricultural efficiency and reduce manual labour in weeding operations across Punjab farmlands — practical innovation at its finest.
A mechanised bund-making attachment for tractors designed to simplify and speed up the creation of field bunds — essential structures for irrigation management across Punjab's agricultural land.
An innovative device monitoring eye health and posture, providing real-time alerts to help students and office workers maintain healthy vision and spinal posture habits through the day.
A digital fuel monitoring meter providing accurate real-time fuel level readings — reducing wastage and helping vehicle owners make smarter, data-driven decisions about their travel.
An integrated chopping and dustbin system that streamlines kitchen waste management — reducing mess, improving hygiene, and simplifying organic waste disposal at home and commercially.
GRIP continues to identify and support many more innovations across all districts — targeting agriculture, healthcare, education, environment, and everyday life at the grassroots level.
A visual record of GRIP's extensive outreach across schools, colleges, village communities, and innovation exhibitions throughout Punjab.
The numbers behind GRIP tell the story of a programme making genuine, ground-level difference across the state of Punjab.
GRIP is a formal initiative of the Punjab State Innovation Council under the Department of Science Technology & Environment, Government of Punjab — implemented through a strong multi-partner model.
The programme draws on the support of ISB (Indian School of Business) and Jugninnov Foundation as official Knowledge Partners — combining academic excellence with grassroots innovation expertise.
Students can apply through the official Punjab State portal to register their innovations and access programme support, mentorship, cash awards, and IP assistance.
GRIP conducted an extensive series of awareness and workshop sessions across schools, colleges, and village communities throughout Punjab.
GRIP team engaged students in maroon uniforms about innovation concepts and how to apply to the GRIP programme for support.
A large-scale session at G.M.N. Senior Secondary with hundreds of students gathered in the main assembly hall — one of the largest single-school GRIP sessions.
A spectacular session presenting "Examples of Innovation & Invention" to a packed DPS Jalandhar auditorium — GRIP at its grandest scale.
A dedicated community-level workshop focused on women participants in a village hall — encouraging grassroots female innovators to register with GRIP.
Another village-level outreach session ensuring GRIP's reach extends beyond urban centres to rural Punjab where grassroots innovation truly lives.
GRIP and Jugninnov Foundation showcased student innovations at Jugaad Mela 3.0 — registering applicants and raising programme awareness at scale.
The GRIP — Grassroots Innovators of Punjab programme has successfully demonstrated that innovation is not confined to laboratories or elite institutions. The programme has reached over 10,000 students and youth across 8 districts of Punjab, conducted 100+ workshops, and engaged 200+ institutions.
By partnering with the Indian School of Business (ISB) and Jugninnov Foundation, GRIP has built a credible, multi-stakeholder ecosystem giving grassroots innovators access to mentorship, IP protection, financial support, and national-level showcase platforms.
Student innovations like the Tractor Operated Rotary Weeder, Digital Fuel Meter, EyeShift Eye Care Device, and the Chopping Dustbin prove that real solutions to real problems are being developed at the grassroots — GRIP's mission is giving them the visibility and support they deserve.
The way forward involves expanding GRIP to all districts of Punjab, deepening industry linkages, strengthening IP support mechanisms, and creating robust pathways from grassroots innovation to market-ready products that generate lasting social and economic impact across the state.
