CSIR-IIIM Mentored Solar Engine Project Wins Top U.S. Innovation Award

Jammu, May 5, 2025 – In a remarkable feat, Japteg Singh Bamrah, a Class 12 student from Dalhousie Public School, has won the prestigious HonorsGradU 2025 Scholarship, securing the Build a Better Future Award along with a $10,000 grant and an additional $5,000 innovation grant for his pioneering Solar Mech Engine project.

Mentored under the Jigyasa Hackathon Initiative by Dr. Nasir Ul Rasheed, Senior Scientist at CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, Japteg’s innovation emerged as one of five exceptional projects selected globally from thousands of entries.

His work, centered on solar thermal energy conversion, marks a historic milestone as he becomes the only Indian student since 2012 to top the HonorsGradU list.

Organized by Honors Graduation, a U.S.-based non-profit that supports sustainability-driven student innovation, the HonorsGradU Scholarship awards only five students worldwide with $10,000 each toward college tuition. Among these, the top technology project receives an additional $5,000 to scale the innovation—an honor bestowed upon Japteg’s Solar Mech Engine, making it a dual recognition of excellence.

Japteg’s Innovation: A Unique Startup Success Story

The project gained incubation support at CSIR-IIIM Jammu, an institute that has been instrumental in fostering grassroots innovation under the Start-Up India, Stand-Up India campaign—launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 and steered by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Vice President of CSIR.

CSIR’s national-level initiative empowers young innovators across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and deep tech.

Japteg’s project, recognized earlier as the winner of the CSIR Jigyasa Hackathon 2024, stands as a rare breakthrough in renewable energy technology and a testament to CSIR-IIIM’s mission to mentor and incubate student-led solutions.

The Solar Mech Engine, developed under CSIR-IIIM’s mentorship, uses solar thermal technology in a standalone CHP (Concentrated Heat & Power) system.

It operates on the principle of cyclic air expansion and contraction, converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, and then into electricity using a low-resistance generator via electromagnetic induction. The project’s unique selling point is its function as a reversible heat pump, making it highly efficient for both heating and energy generation.

From CSIR-IIIM’s Lab to Global Recognition

Japteg’s journey began at CSIR-IIIM Jammu through the Pan-CSIR Jigyasa Hackathon, where he was mentored by Dr. Nasir Ul Rasheed.

The hackathon program at CSIR-IIIM is led by Dr. Asha Chaubey, Senior Principal Scientist & Head of the FMB Division, who provided crucial guidance in numerical and heat mass transfer analysis.

His Solar Mech Engine clinched first place at the hackathon, catching the attention of Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM Jammu.

Dr. Ahmed extended comprehensive institutional support—offering access to laboratories, expert mentorship, and continuous project monitoring. Under this robust mentorship framework, Japteg refined his prototype using state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge tools, transforming a student project into a globally recognized innovation.

A Flood of Opportunities: Scholarships and Offers from Global Universities

Following his success, Japteg has received admission offers from more than ten top universities across the U.S., Australia, and Canada, along with additional scholarships worth $16,000 per year for his undergraduate studies. This international interest underscores both the global appeal of his innovation and the strength of the CSIR-IIIM mentoring ecosystem.

Expressing his gratitude, Japteg said, “CSIR-IIIM provided me with the perfect environment to innovate—access to labs, expert guidance, and encouragement to think big.

Dr. Zabeer’s vision of empowering students and Dr. Nasir’s hands-on mentorship were instrumental in this success.”

Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu, congratulated Japteg and his mentor, stating: “This achievement reflects CSIR-IIIM’s commitment to nurturing young talent in sustainability and innovation. We welcome students across India to leverage our facilities, mentorship, and platforms like the Jigyasa Hackathon to bring their ideas to life.”

He further noted: “Japteg Singh Bamrah’s success demonstrates the power of innovation, mentorship, and perseverance. Winning the HonorsGradU Scholarship and receiving global university offers is no small feat—it shows how institutional support can elevate a student to the world stage. Hopefully, his journey will inspire many more young innovators to pursue their visions with confidence.”

HonorsGradU is a non-profit initiative by Honors Graduation that supports student innovation in sustainability.

With a total scholarship grant of $31,000, Japteg Singh plans to refine his Solar Mech Engine further and pursue higher education at a top global university.