Jammu, May 05: Japteg Singh Bamrah, a Class 12 student from Dalhousie Public School in Jammu, has achieved an exceptional milestone in student innovation by winning the prestigious HonorsGradU 2025 Scholarship. His cutting-edge invention, the Solar Mech Engine, has earned him the coveted “Build a Better Future” Award, marking him as one of five global winners.
This recognition brings immense pride to India, as Japteg is the first-ever student from the country to secure the top position in this competitive global award. Mentored by Dr. Nasir ul Rasheed, Senior Scientist at the CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, under the Jigyasa Hackathon initiative, Japteg’s success reflects the institution’s commitment to nurturing young talent. His innovation, the Solar Mech Engine, has been hailed as the most advanced technology among the award’s winners. It operates on Concentrated Heat and Power (CHP) technology, harnessing temperature-induced cyclic air expansion and contraction to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy. A key feature of the engine is its low-resistance generator, which uses electromagnetic induction to directly convert mechanical energy into electricity, offering an eco-friendly, efficient and sustainable energy solution.
As part of the award, Japteg has been granted a $10,000 scholarship for his undergraduate education in the United States, along with an additional $5,000 grant to further develop and scale his invention. The HonorsGradU Scholarship, a highly selective award presented annually to only five students worldwide, aims to support student-led projects focused on sustainability and innovation. This year, Japteg’s Solar Mech Engine stood out among thousands of entries from across the globe.
Japteg presented his groundbreaking project at the National Startup Festival held at CSIR-IIIM Jammu in February 2025, where he had the opportunity to showcase his innovation to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of Science and Technology and Vice President of CSIR. Dr Singh, who has been a strong advocate for India’s grassroots innovation movement, praised Japteg’s achievement as a significant step towards fostering sustainable development through youth-driven initiatives.
The Solar Mech Engine, which had previously won the CSIR Jigyasa Hackathon 2024, is a standalone solar thermal system that uses innovative principles to harness solar energy. The technology’s ability to function as a reversible heat pump further enhances its efficiency and makes it a strong contender for wide-scale adoption in renewable energy applications. Japteg’s achievement is a testament to the transformative impact of mentorship, and his journey serves as an inspiration to other aspiring innovators. In recognition of his exceptional academic and entrepreneurial abilities, Japteg has received offers from top universities in the USA, Australia, and Canada, alongside additional scholarships amounting to $16,000 annually for his undergraduate studies. With a combined total of $31,000 in scholarship funds, Japteg plans to continue refining his Solar Mech Engine while pursuing his higher education at a leading global university. His success underscores the power of grassroots innovation and the potential for young minds to shape a sustainable future.
