Group Legrand India and the Maharashtra state government have launched the High Impact & Innovations Venture Ecosystem (HiiVE) Legrand Innovation Challenge, a programme focused on sustainable packaging and efforts to reduce single-use plastics.
The programme will be carried out by IICARE Foundation and the Environmental Forum of India, with support from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University (DBATU), Lonere, and Shivaji University, Kolhapur.
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According to the organisers, the initiative is intended to speed up work on sustainable packaging and support the removal of single-use plastics through cooperation between industry, academic institutions and government bodies under Legrand’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
Students, researchers, startups and other innovators will take part through the HiiVE platform.
Government of Maharashtra deputy chief minister’s joint secretary Santosh Bhosale said: “The HiiVE Legrand Innovation Challenge demonstrates how industry, academia and government can come together to translate ideas and research into impactful, scalable and market-ready solutions that create value for society, industry and the environment.”
The event also marked the start of HiiVE, which is intended to strengthen ties between government, academia, industry and innovators, with Legrand acting as the industrial anchor.
A Joint Declaration of Cooperation was signed at the formal launch of the hackathon by DBATU, Group Legrand India, IICARE Foundation, Lonere, and Shivaji University, Kolhapur.
The declaration sets out a basis for continued cooperation in research, innovation, incubation and commercialisation.
Through the hackathon, Group Legrand India is seeking a Made-in-India substitute for single-use plastic that is more than 90% biodegradable.
The initiative also aims to support the development of scalable and commercially viable options for use across industries.
Group Legrand India CEO and managing director Tony Berland said: “At Legrand, sustainability is embedded in our purpose and in the way we innovate.
“Through the HiiVE Legrand Innovation Challenge, we aim to bring together industry expertise, academic research and entrepreneurial thinking to develop practical and scalable alternatives to single-use plastics. This initiative reflects our commitment to improving lives while advancing our sustainability goals.”
