~ The programme saw a registration count of 660+ engineers, a 47% increase from the previous edition ~

~ A one-of-a-kind platform for the brightest young minds to test their theoretical knowledge and practical applications ~

~ Namita Dubey from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad clinched the Winner title, Ravu Ravi Teja from IIT (BHU) Varanasi secured the 1st Runner-up position, and Kurapati Harshavardhan from IIT (BHU) Varanasi bagged the 2nd Runner-up position ~

Mumbai, March 10, 2025: Tata Steel has successfully concluded the 10th edition of its annual innovation challenge, ‘Mind Over Matter’. This unique initiative challenges the sharpest and smartest engineering students from the country's top institutes to address real-life problems related to steel-making and new materials.

In a fiercely contested virtual finale held on March 7, 2025, Namita Dubey from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad Campus emerged as the Winner, while Ravu Ravi Teja from IIT (BHU) Varanasi secured the 1st Runner-up position, and Kurapati Harshavardhan from IIT (BHU) Varanasi bagged the 2nd Runner-up position. The winner, along with the first and second runners-up, received certificates and cash prizes of ₹100,000, ₹75,000, and ₹50,000, respectively. Additionally, they were awarded certificates and Pre-Placement Offers to join Tata Steel as Management Trainees in the Research and Development (R&D) team. The remaining finalists were also offered Pre-Placement Interviews. The winning teams will also be invited to Tata Steel to create prototypes of their ideas under the mentorship of Tata Steel's R&D leadership.

Congratulating the winners Subodh Pandey, Vice President - Technology, R&D, NMB and Graphene, Tata Steel, said: "The 10th edition of Mind Over Matter has been a testament to the incredible talent and innovative spirit of young engineers across the country. The solutions presented by the finalists reflect not only their technical prowess but also their ability to think critically and address real-world challenges. At Tata Steel, we are committed to nurturing such talent and providing them with a platform to transform their ideas into reality. We look forward to seeing these bright minds contribute to the future of steel and new materials technology.”

This season’s finale featured the top 5 finalists presenting their innovative solutions to an esteemed jury panel comprising Subhodh Pandey, Vice President - Technology, R&D, NMB and Graphene, Tata Steel, Rahul Kumar Verma, Chief Product Research, Tata Steel, and Abhijit Avinash Nanoti, Managing Director, JCAPCPL. These teams were mentored by Tata Steel’s R&D leadership during a six-month internship. The competition witnessed a record-breaking registration count of 660+ participants from 37 national and regional technology and engineering institutions, including 14 IITs and 10 NITs.

The Mind Over Matter challenge was open to 1st-year M.Tech students alongside final-year B.Tech students, including those pursuing 5-year dual-degree courses (B.Tech + M.Tech). Mind Over Matter has consistently set a benchmark for cutting-edge research and collaboration between corporates, academia, and students.

This year’s competition welcomed registrations from aspiring innovators, providing them with a platform to engage in real-world problem-solving. Participants submitted case studies from a curated set of 15 challenges, resulting in over 100 high-quality submissions. These submissions underwent a rigorous technical evaluation, leading to the selection of five outstanding finalists across four case studies.

Over the last decade, the journey of Mind Over Matter has been one of relentless innovation and collaboration, inspiring young minds to push the boundaries of technology and engineering. As the competition continues to grow, it remains a testament to Tata Steel’s commitment to fostering talent and driving innovation in the steel industry. 

Disclaimer

Statements in this press release describing the Company’s performance may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws and regulations. Actual results may differ materially from those directly or indirectly expressed, inferred or implied. Important factors that could make a difference to the Company’s operations include, among others, economic conditions affecting demand/ supply and price conditions in the domestic and overseas markets in which the Company operates, changes in or due to the environment, Government regulations, laws, statutes, judicial pronouncements and/ or other incidental factors.

For queries and information

Sarvesh Kumar,
Chief Corporate Communications, Tata Steel,
E-mail : sarvesh.kumar@tatasteel.com

About Tata Steel

• Tata Steel group is among the top global steel companies with an annual crude steel capacity of 35 million tonnes per annum.
• It is one of the world's most geographically diversified steel producers, with operations and commercial presence across the world.
• The group recorded a consolidated turnover of around US$27.7 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2024.
• A Great Place to Work-Certified^TM organisation, Tata Steel Limited, together with its subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures, is spread across five continents with an employee base of over 78,000.
• Tata Steel has announced its major sustainability objectives including Net Zero by 2045.
• The Company has been on a multi-year digital-enabled business transformation journey intending to be the leader in ‘Digital Steel making’. The Company has received the World Economic Forum’s Global Lighthouse recognition for its Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar, and IJmuiden Plants. Tata Steel has also been recognised with the ‘Digital Enterprise of India – Steel’ Award 2024 by Economic Times CIO.
• The Company has been recognised with the World Economic Forum’s Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion Lighthouse 2023
• The Company has been a part of the DJSI Emerging Markets Index since 2012 and has been consistently ranked among the top 10 steel companies in the DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment since 2016.
• Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur Plant is India’s first site to receive ResponsibleSteel^TM Certification. Subsequently, its Kalinganagar and Meramandali plants have also received the certification. In India, Tata Steel now has more than 90% of its steel production from ResponsibleSteel^TM certified sites.
• Received Prime Minister’s Trophy for the best performing integrated steel plant for 2016-17, 2024 Steel Sustainability Champion recognition from worldsteel for seven years in a row, 2023 Climate Change Leadership Award by CDP, Top performer in Iron and Steel sector in Dun & Bradstreet's India's top 500 companies 2022, Ranked as the 2024 most valuable Mining and Metals brand in India by Brand Finance, ‘Most Ethical Company’ award 2021 from Ethisphere Institute, and ‘Best Corporate for Promotion of Sports’ recognition at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2024.
• Received the 2023 Global ERM (Enterprise Risk Management) Award of Distinction at the RIMS ERM Conference 2023, ‘Masters of Risk’ - Metals & Mining Sector recognition at The India Risk Management Awards for the eighth consecutive year, and ICSI Business Responsibility and Sustainability Award 2023 for its first Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR), Excellence in Financial Reporting FY20 from ICAI, among several others.

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Website: www.tatasteel.com and www.wealsomaketomorrow.com

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