Celebrating Innovation: Forbes Marshall BE Project Awards at Cummins College 2026
For nearly three decades, the collaboration between Forbes Marshall and Cummins College of Engineering for Women has created a meaningful bridge between academia and industry. Established with the vision of integrating industrial problem-solving into academic learning, the initiative continues to encourage students to move beyond theory and engage with real-world engineering challenges.
The 2026 edition of the awards, held at the Cummins College of Engineering for Women, reflected this commitment, with student projects focused on practical, real-time applications. Coordinated jointly by Yogesh Gothe (R&D, Forbes Marshall) and Pratima Kulkarni (Cummins College), the competition brought together innovative ideas evaluated through a structured framework that emphasised identifying relevant problems, demonstrating strong engineering fundamentals, and delivering functional, well-executed solutions.
This year’s competition saw close contenders, with several projects earning appreciation for their technical depth and relevance. Among them, a surgical robotic gripper stood out for its precision and potential applications. However, the top honours were awarded to a project that addressed contemporary challenges in transportation. “DriveMetrics for Vehicles,” developed by Prachiti Mujumdar and Sara Patil, distinguished itself through its innovative approach and practical applicability, ultimately securing the winning position.
The award ceremony, held in February 2026, brought together students, faculty, and industry representatives to celebrate achievement and collaboration. The keynote address by Chief Guest Mukund Deshpande inspired the students with insights into the evolving engineering landscape, while Datta Kuvalekar reflected on the competition’s history and its role in fostering industry-academia synergy. Dr. Atul Joshi, the project guide, was felicitated for his instrumental role in steering the winning team toward success.
Winners were presented with a trophy, certificates and INR 50,000 in vouchers, while runners-up received certificates and ₹25,000 in vouchers, recognising their efforts; and reinforcing the spirit of participation and excellence. More than a competition, the initiative continues to serve as a platform for nurturing future-ready engineers equipped to solve real industrial challenges.
