Lucknow: UPRISE 2026, a campus innovation and career development initiative linked to UP govt’s youth empowerment agenda, was organised at Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET), bringing together students, entrepreneurs, mentors and industry experts on a common platform.The event, aimed at encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, career exploration and practical problem-solving among young people, witnessed enthusiastic participation from students across disciplines.A major highlight of the event was ‘Build for UP’ Pitch Finale, where 12 student teams presented innovative solutions to local challenges before a panel of expert judges.Through its university outreach campaign, UPRISE 2026 is providing students with opportunities to showcase ideas, interact with experts and gain exposure to the startup ecosystem, said a govt spokesperson. The campaign has already reached several cities, including Kanpur, Agra, Lucknow, Raebareli, Mathura, Bareilly and Saharanpur.Student engagement remained high throughout the day with interactive activities such as CM-Yuva Scheme awareness stall, scorecard activities and Shakti Zone sticky-note wall. During the pitch competition, teams presented solutions addressing local issues, which were evaluated live by an expert advisory panel. ‘Petro Water’ emerged as the winner while ‘Neuro Grip’ secured the first runner-up position and ‘Agri Nova’ finished second runner-up.Around 1,650 participants registered for the event. The programme reached nearly 2 lakh people through digital platforms and around 8,000 people through offline engagement, highlighting the growing interest among UP’s youth in innovation-driven growth and entrepreneurship.
