Second lab under AICTE IDEA Lab Initiative Inaugurated at UIET, Panjab University

Chandigarh, September 22, 2026: In order to promote hands-on learning, innovation, prototyping and interdisciplinary project development among students, the Panjab University (PU) today inaugurated the second lab under the AICTE IDEA Lab initiative at the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), PU.
The laboratory was inaugurated in the presence of Distinguished Professor, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, UK, Prof. Mohsen Rahmani; PU Registrar, Prof. Y. P. Verma; Coordinator, RUSA, Prof. Ganga Ram Chaudhary; and Director, UIET, Prof. Sukhwinder Singh.
The AICTE IDEA Lab at UIET is equipped with a comprehensive range of modern hardware, electronics, fabrication, instrumentation and prototyping facilities designed to support hands-on learning, experimentation, innovation and interdisciplinary project development. The laboratory includes GPIO modules, microcontrollers, ESP32 and STM32 development boards, sensors and actuators, quadcopter assembly kits, soldering and desoldering stations, variable DC power supplies, oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, digital force gauges and other electronic testing and measurement equipment.
The establishment of the laboratory reflects the commitment of PU and UIET towards fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning, and industry-relevant technical skills. The laboratory will provide students with opportunities to transform innovative ideas into practical engineering solutions through hands-on experimentation, design, prototyping, and problem-solving.
The inauguration was followed by the valedictory ceremony of the three-day workshop on AI, PCB Designing and 3D Design & Printing, organised by the AICTE IDEA Lab. Students who demonstrated outstanding performance, creativity and enthusiasm during the workshop were felicitated with tokens of appreciation and recognition.
The event also featured the results and prize distribution ceremony of “BLACKBOX,” a 24-hour software- and hardware-based hackathon organised by the AICTE IDEA Lab. The hackathon witnessed enthusiastic participation from 26 teams representing institutions across the Chandigarh Tricity region, providing students with an opportunity to address engineering challenges through innovative and technology-driven solutions.
Team RASTA from Amity University secured the first prize of Rs 25,000. The winning team comprised Tamal Krishna Chabbra, Sukhmanjeet Singh, and Rojal. The second prize of Rs15,000 was secured by Team Dev In College from UIET, while Team Laplace won the third prize of Rs 10,000.
The dignitaries appreciated the enthusiasm, creativity, and efforts of the participating students and encouraged them to pursue hands-on learning, practical skill development, innovation, and interdisciplinary problem-solving. The event highlighted the University's continued efforts towards creating an ecosystem that promotes experiential learning, technological innovation, prototyping, and student-led problem-solving.
The event was organised under the supervision of Dr. Gaurav Sapra, Coordinator, AICTE IDEA Lab, and Prof. Rajesh Kumar, Co-Coordinator, AICTE IDEA Lab, UIET, Panjab University.