The second and final day of EKASVA 2025 – Innovation Meet and Patent Expo, held at NIT Calicut, was a remarkable culmination of the event, drawing academia, industry professionals, and innovators together. The day featured an exciting array of activities, including panel discussions, extra-mural lectures, and competitive pitching events. 

The day began with an insightful extra-mural lecture by Prof. Prasad Krishna, Director of NIT Calicut, who shed light on the critical role academic institutions play in nurturing deep-tech startups. He focused on NITC's initiatives in this domain, particularly through its Technology Business Incubator (TBI), which has become instrumental in supporting startups across various sectors. Prof. Krishna emphasized that the TBI provides vital infrastructure, mentoring, and a collaborative ecosystem that fosters innovation and commercialization. 

Later in the day, a panel discussion titled "Business from Academia: Monetizing Research and Patents" was chaired by Dr. Ravi Varma M K, Dean of IACR, NITC. The panel explored the challenges and opportunities for academic institutions to nurture startups and bring research to market. The discussion provided valuable insights on fostering industry-academia collaboration and bridging the gap between research and commercialization. Esteemed panelists included Sri. Prakash Shetty, MD of Gasotech; Sri. Rajeeh G R, General Manager (Marketing) of KMTC; Dr. Arun Muley, Technical Fellow & SEA Technology Director at Boeing; and Sri. Ajayan K A, Managing Partner of VRDDHI CTS. The session offered actionable strategies for monetizing research and creating a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem within academic institutions. 

Another prominent speaker, Dr. Sudheer K P, Professor at KAU and Head of ABI-KAU, delivered a thought-provoking talk on “Supporting Innovations and Transferring Technology – Efforts by KAU/ICAR.” He showcased several agriculture-based startups, such as Srishti Robotics, Farm 365 Innovations, and Crimz, which are transforming the agricultural sector. Dr. Sudheer emphasized the importance of fostering innovation in agriculture and transferring technology to ensure sustainable growth in the industry. 

The day was also marked by the high-energy competitive events where students showcased their creativity and innovative ideas. In the Idea Students Pitching competition, nine teams competed for a cash prize of Rs. 25,000. The event demonstrated the enthusiasm and ingenuity of the student participants, with some impressive ideas presented during the pitching sessions. 

In the Best Student Innovation competition, the first-place prize was awarded to Rinku Joseph and team for their groundbreaking project on Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining System, with the runner up prize going to Unni S Kumar and Athul for their innovative work on FPV morphing drone rover, accompanied by a cash award of Rs. 10,000. These awards showcased the dynamism and potential of young innovators, offering a platform for them to display their talents and receive well-deserved recognition. In the Idea Pitching competition, the Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining System took the first prize, while the First-Person View Morphing Drone Rover claimed second place. Additionally, the Best Innovation Awards recognized the Self-Healing Auxetic Metamaterial for Dynamic Vascular Grafting with first place, the Industrial Sorting and Grading System for Coconut in second place, and the Low-Cost Fully Automated Device for Kirby Bauer Diffusion Method in third place. 

The event concluded with a Valedictory Session chaired by Director NITC, marking the end of EKASVA 2025. The session reflected on the significant impact of the event in fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and innovators. It underscored the importance of such platforms in driving future breakthroughs in technology and research. 

EKASVA 2025 concluded as a resounding success, providing a dynamic platform for intellectual exchange and technological innovation. The event highlighted the power of collaboration between academia and industry and paved the way for the next generation of groundbreaking ideas.