Kumaraguru students shine across Europe with three global innovation awards

Students of Kumaraguru Institutions have brought global recognition to India by securing three prestigious awards in technology and sustainability competitions held in the United Kingdom, Monaco and the Netherlands within a week, showcasing their innovation, engineering excellence and global competitiveness.
At the European International Submarine Races (eISR) 2026 in the United Kingdom, Team InCraft created history by becoming the first Indian team to win the IMarEST Sustainability Award. The students designed and built India’s first student-made, human-powered submarine, operated by a scuba-equipped pilot through a chain-driven pedal system. The submarine features a biomimicry-inspired “Swift Bird” control mechanism for precise multi-directional manoeuvring and an eco-friendly oyster-shell coating to prevent marine fungal growth. The team earned the honour while competing against 17 university teams from nine countries, where only three awards were presented.
At the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, Team Sea Sakthi received the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sustainability Award for its advanced electric racing catamaran, Yali 5.0. Built entirely in-house, the vessel incorporates an indigenous electric propulsion system, a lightweight bio-based hemp-fibre structure reinforced with nanocellulose and an advanced battery thermal management system. The award includes a grant of €25,000 to support future innovations and adds to the two technology awards the team had previously won at the competition.
In the Netherlands, Team Sulal secured the Runner-Up position for the Sustainability Award at the International Small Wind Turbine Contest (ISWTC) 2026. The team developed a small wind turbine prototype that successfully competed against designs from leading technical universities, demonstrating its potential for sustainable power generation.
The achievements are the outcome of extensive research, prototyping and testing by students of Kumaraguru College of Technology (KCT) and Kumaraguru College of Liberal Arts and Science (KCLAS), with support from faculty mentors, alumni and industry partners.
By earning recognition across three major international competitions in Europe, Kumaraguru Institutions have reinforced the capability of Indian students to design, develop and deliver globally competitive engineering solutions in sustainable technology.