Innovation in STEM Education Critical to Make in India’s Success

Launched in 2014, the Make in India initiative is aimed at rebuilding the Indian economy, transitioning away from its heavy reliance on the service sector and moving towards the creation of a global hub of manufacturing and innovation. It’s a huge effort for one of the world’s biggest and most vibrant nations, and one that requires vast amounts of infrastructure and investment.

India is also working hard to pivot into a post-COVID world by seeking investment and enticing investors to leave behind factories in China for more innovative — and less tariffed — shores. Companies like Apple are taking note and have already begun shifting production to India. This is all happening against the backdrop of huge growth in STEM jobs overall. There has been a 44% increase in science and technology jobs in India from 2016–2019.

But will the country have enough capable workers to answer the call? For Make in India to find continued success, it needs more than investors. It also requires a population with the education and skills needed to work in high-tech industries.

Fortunately, there are groups of entrepreneurs, educators, and innovators who hear the call loud and clear and are investing in STEM education to develop homegrown talent.

STEM Organizations Poised to Make India a Nation of Makers

One of the most exciting aspects of India’s transformation from a service economy to a manufacturing one is the country’s growing commitment to STEM education. There are dozens of dynamic organizations working hard to make sure that Indian students get the skills they need in science, technology, engineering and math so they are prepared not only to work in manufacturing, but to drive economic growth by starting their own businesses that bring innovations to the marketplace.

Take a look at some of the incredible organizations that are making robust STEM education possible across India:

• Adroidex: Adroidex understands that in order for India to shift to a nation of makers, companies will need a capable, well-trained workforce. In addition to ongoing training and education for adults, they also partner with Discovery Education to provide an online STEM curriculum. Adroidex also offers a series of kid-friendly robots that bring coding and robotics education to young learners in a social and accessible way
• AIDoings: AIDoings is taking the incredible power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and using it to support education via early dyslexia detection. Their innovative program takes data about family history along with measurements of eye movement and emotional reaction to reading to determine a child’s potential for dyslexia to get kids the support they need — before they fall behind in school.
• Ashtrix: With over 14,000 students across 20 countries, Ashtrix is democratizing STEM learning in robotics and AI with interactive coursework and individual attention. Students learn to build chatbots, design programs to recognize images, and develop useful Android apps — all while gaining a solid foundation in the technology that is driving our future.
• Cuemath: If you’ve ever struggled in math class, you know just how important great teaching is in this critical subject. Through live, online classes, Cuemath brings a research-based math curriculum to all grades. Expert instruction focuses on teaching kids to visualize concepts, create mental models, and solve real-world problems with logic and mathematical thinking.

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• Curiosity Gym: Like all great STEM programs, Curiosity Gym is squarely focused on experiential learning. They partner with schools to provide “innovation hubs” where kids can experience hands-on curriculum in all types of making. They also offer a robust array of online courses in coding, robotics and more. Perhaps most exciting is their unique one-on-one mentorship model for individualized learning in an array of high-tech subjects.
• Eduvance: Eduvance understands that supporting STEM is about more than just products — though they have excellent ones, including drones and DIY holograms. They also provide workshops, courses, and facilitate partnerships with industry to bring learning labs and technology directly to schools that need help getting started with such a big investment.

• GA Robotics: GA Robotics knows it can take time for students to overcome a learned aversion to dull, textbook-based science lessons. That’s why they offer teacher training and the expertise to design engaging lab spaces that draw students into the exciting world of STEM. The company offers coursework in electronics, coding, machine learning, and more to children, college students, and professionals looking to boost their skills.
• Innoverts Network Private Limited: Innoverts Network is an educational technology company which is focused on enhancing the current educational system with the latest in SMART technology, along with the design / development of labs and through the offering of futuristic skillset opportunities for students of all ages and backgrounds.
• OMOTEC: OMOTEC — short for OnMyOwnTechnology — brings the fun of robotics to students of all ages, up to and including adult engineers. Carefully designed courses deliver deep learning in robotics engineering from a lab group with published research and two patents of its own. Tat may sound heavy, but the focus is squarely on the fun, with Lego building and competitions to spark creativity.
• Otomatiks: With state-of-the-art facilities to share, Otomatiks offers robotics education as an extra-curricular activity or as part of the regular school day, depending on a school’s needs and budget. Their robotics labs can be tailored for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners, and they also offer additional coursework focusing on art and creativity.
• ReynLabs: ReynLabs provides hands-on learning in technical fields to open job opportunities to more people. Simulated coursework in electric and hybrid vehicles helps bring mechanics’ skills up to date, with a focus on doing rather than reading dull training manuals. This type of advanced training for adults will be crucial as India’s manufacturing economy advances.
• ScienceUtsav: ScienceUtsav is committed to hands-on learning and has a mission to encourage children to “think beyond what is taught.” The organization provides STEM “tinkering labs” and maker spaces as well as camps, events, and online classes to reach as many young people as possible. Services are available to schools, businesses, and individual families to reach as many kids as possible.
• Skill Angels: Skill Angels is an award-winning program designed to coach kids through some of the most important educational skills they’ll need to master. The program uses AI to assess a student’s baseline understanding and deliver personalized practice. As kids get better at a skill, the program increases in difficulty and measures outcomes. Programs for early childhood and special education are also available.

• Smartivity: Browsing the Smartivity website is a little like visiting Santa’s workshop — if the elves were all STEM teachers. This company’s incredible range of wooden building kits make it fun for kids to solve engineering problems while learning the basics of physics through experimentation. The company is also committed to sustainable practices and gender equity STEM.
• SmartKidz: SmartKidz describes itself as an “edutainment” company, with a focus on making robotics and science education fun for students. They offer courses in Android, Python, aeromodeling and robotics while working hard to support underprivileged communities through direct assistance.
• SP Robotic Works: SP Robotic Works offers online learning in robotics as well as Android app making and artificial intelligence. For adults, there is additional coursework in machine learning and virtual reality designed to improve skills in these growing fields. The company also offers a range of robotics competitions and events to create a community of learners.
• STEM Learning: STEM Learning understands that it takes a village to make deep STEM programs a reality. This group advocates for hands-on learning and facilitates connections between the public and private sector to drive change. Their work includes the development of teacher training programs, maker spaces, a quiz competition, and more.
• Tinkerly: Tinkerly wants to turn every classroom into a 21st century learning lab, with the goal of supporting kids’ building skills. Tinkerly is a great resource for material kits and maker space equipment, but what sets them apart is their incredible library of projects. Here’s you’ll find everything from a lesson on the aerodynamics of paper airplanes to complex electronics and IoT projects to keep kids engaged.
• Vingyan Innovations: As an innovative technology company with experience ranging from agriculture to manufacturing, Vingyan Innovations knows what it takes to bring creative new ideas about data to their partners. The company is also committed to bringing “tecklabs” to schools to embed learning about green energy, IoT, and AI into the curriculum. Their technology drive has reached over 1000 students — and counting!
• Wissensquelle Robotics: Wissensquelle Robotics has brought over 75 robotics and 3D printing labs to schools across India, with lessons that structure learning for young beginners through intermediate and high school learners. The focus is on robotics and wide-open creativity. The company also brings 3D printing labs and AI centers to colleges to support programming instruction and job training.

An honorable mention goes to Mindtronix, an innovative Indian edtech company that develops and manufactures high-quality school-level science, electronics, and robotics products, exemplifying the type of local ingenuity needed to advance STEM readiness nationwide.

With so much impactful work occurring on the ground to bolster STEM education, India is poised to achieve its goals. But it must be said: Make in India cannot succeed without a comprehensive educational transformation that prepares students for the future of STEM careers. Cultivating a pipeline of enthusiastic learners who become innovative professionals is the crucial first step, and we look forward to seeing even greater emphasis placed on STEM education in India’s future.

This article was originally featured in The STEM.org Informer™: A Newsweek Publication on August 21st, 2020 and updated for Medium on October 5th, 2020.

Andrew B. Raupp is the Founder / Executive Director @stemdotorg. “Democratizing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education through sound policy & practice… Applying STEM to better understand it.”

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