At just 17 years old, Vihaan Anand Eswarapu has etched his name in the annals of Indian scientific innovation by becoming the youngest-ever awardee at the International Knowledge Millennium Conference (IKMC). This student from Oakridge International School in Gachibowli, Hyderabad, received the prestigious 2nd prize in the Platform Technologies category—a remarkable achievement that underscores the growing influence of youth innovators in addressing India’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The award was presented at IKMC 2025, the 19th edition of this flagship annual event organized by IKP Knowledge Park at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre. This year’s conference, themed “Beyond the Blueprint: Recalibrating Innovation for a Disrupted World,” brought together 125 innovators showcasing cutting-edge solutions across healthcare, biotechnology, defence, and environmental sustainability.
Vihaan’s award-winning creation—an Automatic Waste Segregation Machine—addresses one of India’s most critical environmental challenges: inefficient waste management. The country generates approximately 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, with only 70% collected and a mere 20% treated. His machine automatically sorts waste into four distinct categories: dry, wet, organic, and others, offering a scalable solution for schools, malls, corporate offices, and rural areas where segregation awareness remains limited.
The innovation couldn’t be more timely. India’s Draft Solid Waste Management Rules, 2024, set to take effect in October 2025, mandate proper waste segregation at source. Vihaan’s machine directly addresses this requirement while tackling the inefficiencies of traditional waste management systems that rely heavily on manual sorting—a process that is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and often ineffective.
Vihaan’s recognition at IKMC 2025 reflects the conference’s commitment to identifying and supporting breakthrough innovations. The event’s TechX: The Startup Innovation Showcase brought together over 150 startups and researchers exhibiting cutting-edge technologies across multiple sectors. His achievement is part of a broader trend of youth-led innovation in India’s science and technology landscape. His recognition comes at a time when teenage innovators across the country are making significant contributions to solving complex challenges.
The standing ovation Vihaan received at IKMC 2025 was not merely for a technical achievement; it was an acknowledgment of the fresh perspective and fearless innovation that youth bring to seemingly intractable problems. As IKP Knowledge Park completes 25 years of nurturing innovation, recognizing the youngest-ever awardee symbolizes the continuity of India’s innovation journey—from established research institutions to the next generation of changemakers working in school laboratories today.
– Rashmi Kumari
