The Institutional Innovation Council (IIC) at CMR University was established in 2018 to foster a vibrant culture of innovation and creativity across the campus. This initiative has enabled CMRU to embed innovation, entrepreneurship, and startup incubation into its academic and co-curricular framework with Design Thinking at its core.
CMRU aligns its innovation activities with several flagship national initiatives by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, including:
Through its Innovation Centre and Design Thinking Lab, CMRU adopts a multidisciplinary approach, spanning business, technology, economics, social sciences, design, architecture, and law, to nurture ideas and support early-stage startups.
CMRU has also formalised its efforts through a dedicated Innovation and Startup Policy, which provides a clear framework for all innovation-related activities on campus.
Fostering a spirit of innovation through ideation sessions, hackathons, workshops, and real-world problem-solving.
Delivering entrepreneurship training and experiential learning opportunities to both students and faculty members.
Providing mentoring, infrastructure, and funding pathways for early-stage startups.
Located at the CMRU Lakeside Campus, the Innovation Centre and Design Thinking Lab spans 7,000 sq. ft. and features modular, flexible infrastructure including movable furniture, LED displays, whiteboards, and collaborative workspaces. It is purpose-built to facilitate co-creation among students, incubators, and entrepreneurs.
The lab promotes an interdisciplinary, hands-on learning culture and encourages students to develop market-ready solutions by moving through the full Design Thinking process—from empathy and ideation to prototyping and iterative feedback.
Students gain essential 21st-century competencies in creativity, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork as they work on impactful, socially relevant projects.
Equipped with a large display and advanced audio system, this space enables teams to pitch their ideas effectively and receive constructive feedback.
Designed for smaller, informal project reviews—ideal for quick iteration and peer critique.
Furnished with glass-top tables, pin-up boards, and whiteboards of varied sizes to encourage visual collaboration and group ideation.
A dedicated build space outfitted with 3D printers, development boards, and fabrication tools for turning concepts into functional prototypes.
CMRU supports innovation through strategic partnerships and funding initiatives, including:
The CMRU Makerspace is a cutting-edge prototyping lab that empowers innovators to create, test, and iterate solutions. With access to high-quality tools, materials, and expert mentorship, students are guided through the five stages of Design Thinking and encouraged to explore scalable, real-world impact.
Ideate
Build Prototypes
Create Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Engineer and Scale
Ensure Investment and Manufacturing Readiness
CMRU provides numerous platforms for students to pitch their ideas to investors, secure funding, and launch startups. Key partners include NASSCOM Foundation (thingQbator), ICAR Tech-TBI NaaVic, iEntra India Startup Studio, MITSquare, and The Future Founders.
One of the recent highlights: CMRU students participated in the ASEAN–China–India Youth Leadership Summit 2023 in Singapore—fully funded.
CMR University, Bagalur Main Road, Bengaluru – 560064
Email
iic@cmr.edu.in
Phone
+91 80 4536 6666
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