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AICTE IDEA Lab at TKMCE, Kollam: Transforming Imaginations to Reality


TKM College of Engineering was established by Janab Thangal Kunju Musaliar in 1958. Since then, the college has pioneered many social and technological transformations in Kerala. We have always emphasized the ability of our students to practically apply theoretical knowledge on different subjects by encouraging product-based thinking and hands-on learning.

It is experiential learning that prepares engineering students to meet the demands of the industry. That's why we have designed the AICTE IDEA Lab at TKMCE, Kollam, as a hub for creativity, experimentation, and student-led innovation. Read on to learn how the lab facilities help shape tomorrow's trailblazers.

Also read: How TKMCE Becomes One of Kerala’s Top Engineering Colleges: GATE Achievements Speak

What is the AICTE IDEA Lab?


The term IDEA stands for Idea Development, Evaluation & Application. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) is establishing IDEA labs across India. The main aim of these labs is to encourage students to learn by doing, product visualization, and hands-on experience. The labs achieve this by helping students apply the basic elements of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The national-level objectives of IDEA Labs include promoting the spirit of student innovations. They also encourage students to be creative and entrepreneurial. IDEA Labs also encourages innovative product ideas for students.

The graduates acquire much required 21st-century skills, including problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, design thinking, and others. This is besides the hands-on training for student innovation competitions. IDEA Lab infrastructure also encourages multidisciplinary research and teaching among faculty.

AICTE IDEA labs promote experiential and hands-on learning. Hence, they act as a key element in realizing the core vision of National Education Policy 2020. Further, the following are a few ways in which AICTE IDEA labs align with NEP 2020:

  • ● Cultivate innovation and creativity
  • ● Develop skills
  • ● Encourage interdisciplinary learning
  • ● Encourages community engagement

Inside the AICTE IDEA Lab at TKMCE, Kollam

The AICTE IDEA Lab at TKMCE, Kollam, was inaugurated in January 2023 by member secretary Prof. Rajive Kumar. Neeraj Saxena, advisor, IDC, AICTE; T.K. Shahal Hassan Musaliar, chairman of TKM College Trust; and AICTE Policy and Academic Bureau advisor Ramesh Unnikrishnan were the other dignitaries present during the occasion.

The inauguration of the lab made TKM College of Engineering part of a network of 49 institutes in India, transforming technical education. The main aim of the AICTE IDEA Lab at TKMCE, Kollam, since its beginning, is the empowerment of engineering graduates with advanced skills, tools, and processes.

The total project cost of the AICTE IDEA Lab at TKMCE, Kollam, was 82 lakhs, half of which was funded by the AICTE. The lab is equipped with cutting-edge equipment and infrastructure for student innovations, and these include

  • ● PCB Milling Machine
  • ● 3D Printer
  • ● Solder station
  • ● Digital storage oscilloscope
  • ● Arduino professional kit
  • ● 11th-generation workstation
  • ● Support of software such as ANSYS and AUTOCAD

The AICTE IDEA Lab at TKMCE, Kollam, encourages innovativeness and entrepreneurship in the student community. Thus, the lab acts as a self- sustainable platform that actualizes innovative product ideas for students to create affordable products that meet socioeconomic needs.

Also read: 7 Best Engineering Colleges in Kerala: 2025 Ranking Updated


AICTE IDEA Lab at TKMCE, Kollam Powering Student Innovations: Facilities and Features

You can find a variety of equipment suitable for innovation and prototyping at the AICTE IDEA Lab at TKMCE, Kollam. Fabrication tools like 3D printers are especially functional for student innovations requiring design iteration and rapid prototyping.

Read on to understand the use and features of the different facilities supporting student invention ideas at the IDEA Lab at TKMCE:


PCB Milling Machine

These machines are widely used for student innovation and prototyping in the electronics industry. The unique features making PCB milling popular are

  • ● Rapid Prototyping
  • ● Accuracy and precision
  • ● Cost-effective production of PCBs in small quantities
  • ● Customization and flexible design changes
  • ● Eliminates the need for chemical etching
  • ● Boost in-house prototyping
  • ● Versatile Applications

3D Printers

  • ● These printers help create functional prototypes of innovative products for students.
  • ● They help create customized products.
  • ● 3D printers teach students the principles of design, manufacturing, and engineering.

The unique features of 3D printers that make them necessary for student invention ideas include

  • ● Rapid Prototyping
  • ● Reduced Costs
  • ● Design Freedom
  • ● Customization
  • ● Versatility, etc.

Solder Station

A solder station is used in prototyping and innovation in electronics mainly due to its advantages, such as

  • ● Temperature control
  • ● Versatility
  • ● Suitability for small-batch production and more

Digital Storage Oscilloscope

Digital Storage Oscilloscopes (DSOs) find their use in prototyping and innovation in electrical and electronics engineering. DSOs form an inevitable part of the AICTE IDEA Lab in TKMCE, Kollam, because of their

  • ● Visualizing and analyzing signals
  • ● Measuring signal characteristics
  • ● Troubleshooting and debugging
  • ● Optimizing designs
  • ● Capturing and Storing Signals
  • ● Advanced Analysis Features
  • ● Versatility and Connectivity

Arduino Professional Kit:

The Arduino Professional Kit helps explore innovative product ideas for students and build functional prototypes quickly. This professional kit is used in areas like machine vision, predictive maintenance, and environmental sensing for these reasons:

  • ● Rapid Prototyping
  • ● Advanced Features
  • ● Modular and Flexible
  • ● Comprehensive Tools
  • ● Ease of Use

11th Generation Workstation

Fields such as 3D modeling, artificial intelligence (AI), and software development use 11th-generation workstations for prototyping and innovative product ideas for students. They are used in:

  • ● Software Development
  • ● 3D Modeling and Animation
  • ● AI and machine learning, and more

Also read: AI Courses in India: The Gateway to Innovation and Opportunity


AUTOCAD and ANSYS

The AICTE IDEA Lab at TKMCE, Kollam, also supports the prototyping of innovative products for students with software such as Ansys and AutoCAD.


Conclusion: Transforming Ideas into Impact


The AICTE IDEA Lab at TKMCE, Kollam, is shaping a generation of innovators by

  • ● Facilitating the development of student invention ideas
  • ● Encouraging hands-on experience:
  • ● Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration:
  • ● Developing creative thinking and problem-solving skills:
  • ● Connecting industry and academia:
  • ● Fostering entrepreneurship:
  • ● Creating a network of mentors:
  • ● Helping multidisciplinary research and education

So, if you are a prospective engineering student who wants to do your education in a forward-thinking ecosystem or to know more about our IDEA Lab facilities and activities, contact us at:

  • ● Email ID: principal@tkmce.ac.in
  • ● Phone no.: +91 474-2712024

Also read: SAE India TKMCE Collegiate Club: Learning Through Projects