- ‘Strands of Eternity’ brings technology, creativity and interdisciplinary problem-solving together on October 31 and November 1
- Tech Expo to showcase innovations from startups, research laboratories and technology organisations
- Boeing National Aeromodelling Competition to bring together more than 100 teams from four States
- Military and Auto Expos to spotlight advanced defence technologies, vintage classics and modern performance vehicles
- Industry leaders, researchers and innovators to converge for a conclave and symposium on emerging technologies
- Robotics, AI, sustainable energy, hackathons and science olympiads to turn the IIT Gandhinagar campus into a laboratory of ideas
NE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, OCT 29
What happens when artificial intelligence meets aerodynamics, robotics collides with imagination, and student ingenuity is challenged to solve real-world problems? At IIT Gandhinagar, the answer will unfold over two days of technology showcases, national-level competitions, expert discussions and live entertainment. The 17th edition of Amalthea ’26, the student-led technical summit of the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), will bring this convergence of ideas to life on October 31 and November 1.
Under the theme ‘Strands of Eternity’, the summit will explore how different strands of technology, innovation and interdisciplinary thinking can combine to shape the future. Its programme spans technology exhibitions, research demonstrations, hackathons, engineering challenges, expert interactions and entertainment, offering students and visitors opportunities to move beyond textbook learning and experience innovation in action.
Tech Expo: Where tomorrow’s ideas meet today’s innovators
One of Amalthea’s flagship attractions, the Tech Expo, will showcase innovations from startups, research laboratories and technology organisations. Among the participants are the Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), IITGN’s Robotics Lab, Kapidhwaj AI, HP and ATSN AI, alongside other exhibitors.
The exhibits are expected to span robotics, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, maritime engineering, smart chemical sensing and power electronics, illustrating how scientific research and technological development can address challenges across sectors.
The Military Expo will showcase drones and other advanced defence technologies, while the Auto Expo will bring together vintage automobiles, classic vehicles and modern machines. Visitors can expect to encounter automotive names and models including Land Rover, Morris Minor, Ford Roadster, Ford Mustang, BMW M2 and Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
Together, the exhibitions will offer a window into the evolution of engineering — from mechanical ingenuity and automotive heritage to emerging technologies with applications in industry and public life.
Open Day puts student innovation in the spotlight
The Open Day on October 31 will provide students, researchers and startups with an opportunity to present their work to visitors.
By bringing projects into a public-facing setting, the initiative can help young innovators explain their ideas, exchange feedback and demonstrate how academic knowledge translates into practical applications.
The exhibits will cover diverse fields, creating opportunities for visitors to explore the connections between disciplines that are often studied separately. The underlying message is that tomorrow’s breakthroughs may emerge not from a single field, but from the interaction of several.
Conclave and symposium connect campus with industry
A conclave and symposium scheduled for October 31 from 2 pm onwards will bring together representatives from government, industry and research to discuss emerging technologies and management challenges.
The speakers include Neha Kumari, IAS, Director of the Gujarat State Electronics Mission; Dr Vinay Sharma, Principal Engineer at Tata Electronics; H. S. Jatana of the Semiconductor Laboratory, Chandigarh; and representatives from technology startups and industry.
The discussions are intended to connect academic thinking with industry experience, exposing students to the technological priorities, implementation challenges and professional perspectives shaping innovation.
Such exchanges can also help young engineers understand that technological progress requires more than technical expertise: it calls for collaboration, effective management, practical problem-solving and an understanding of real-world needs.
More than 100 teams prepare for aeromodelling challenge
A major attraction will be the Boeing National Aeromodelling Competition, scheduled on both days from 10.30 am to 5 pm. More than 100 teams from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are expected to participate.
Aeromodelling brings together principles of aerodynamics, structural design, propulsion, materials and control systems. The competition will offer participants an opportunity to put engineering concepts into practice and test their design and problem-solving skills.
The wider competition programme includes Brainwiz, a science olympiad for students of Classes 8 to 12; an engineering challenge centred on low-latency trading systems; business and urban-planning hackathons; and contests involving robotics, aerodynamics, electronics and sustainable energy.
The range of challenges reflects the summit’s emphasis on experiential learning, encouraging participants to test ideas, work collaboratively and develop solutions under practical constraints.
From scientific discovery to the rhythm of EDM
Amalthea ’26 will conclude its second day with The Shunya, the summit’s EDM Night, featuring a live performance by Ajitanshu Kumar followed by DJ Rihya.
The event follows the debut of EDM Night at Amalthea ’25, which attracted more than 2,500 attendees.
The entertainment programme adds a cultural dimension to the technical summit, bringing together the energy of campus life and the excitement of scientific exploration. For student organisers, it also creates a broader platform for participation beyond the competition arena.
Building a culture of innovation
Organised by IITGN students, Amalthea provides a platform for young innovators to engage with emerging technologies, interact with industry and research professionals, and apply their knowledge to practical challenges.
Its larger significance lies in creating opportunities for students to question established approaches, collaborate across disciplines and discover how scientific ideas evolve into workable solutions.
In an era when technological change is reshaping industries and everyday life, the real value of a student technology summit lies not merely in displaying inventions, but in inspiring the next generation to invent, experiment and think differently.
Amalthea ’26 seeks to bring that spirit to the fore through two days of science, engineering, competition and creativity.
Participation and tickets: Competition participation, visitor tickets and the latest event updates are available on the official Amalthea website: https://amalthea.iitgn.ac.in/