SHILLONG :  The Design Innovation Centre (DIC) at North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, has announced a premier multi-event programme titled 'Innovation, Design, Thinking & Entrepreneurship' (IDTE 2026). Scheduled to take place from February 19th to 21st, 2026, the event aims to foster a culture of creativity and problem-solving among students and budding entrepreneurs.

The three-day programme, organized under the leadership of Dr. S. Majaw, Director of DIC NEHU, will be held at the NEICOD Building on the NEHU campus. The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

Event Highlights

The IDTE 2026 structure is designed to offer diverse experiences through three core segments:

• Interactive Workshops: Sessions will cover Design Thinking, prototyping, funding strategies, and marketing. Participants can choose to attend specific days based on their interests.

• Stall Exhibitions: A showcase of innovative products and student-led initiatives, featuring technology demonstrations such as 3D printing and Virtual Reality (VR).

• Ideation & Innovation Challenge: A competitive platform for participants to solve real-world problems like waste management in hilly areas, drinking water scarcity, and healthcare access in remote tribal regions.

Eligibility and Awards

The event is open to a wide range of academic backgrounds, including students of B.A., B.Com, B.Sc., B.Tech, and LL.B., as well as postgraduates and existing startups. While open to all, preference will be given to participants from Meghalaya.

Winning teams in the Innovation Challenge will receive prototyping grants, seed funds, and mentorship from DIC to help transform their ideas into functional prototypes.

How to Register

Interested candidates must register by February 8th, 2026. Registration links for the different segments are as follows:

• Workshops: https://forms.gle/JRiYTGvpc8bqSXAB6

• Exhibitions: https://forms.gle/1cSMnxwb7nZiLrfg8

• Innovation Challenge: https://forms.gle/Uj2RoQa7T9urQVhT7