Michelin India felicitates university representatives

Michelin, the world’s leading automotive tyre manufacturers and strong promoters of ‘Sustainable Mobility’, felicitated the Indian students’ delegation that participated in the 11th edition of Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2011 held in Berlin from May 18 to 22, 2011 promoting the overall theme of a cleaner, safer and more connected mobility. Speaking on the occasion Nicolas Beaumont, Managing Director, Michelin India noted, “Michelin challenges the young minds of today to conceptualize innovative ideas for alternative technologies that can change the way the world looks at the future of mobility. Keeping the ethos of this global event in mind and the contribution made by these young minds at this platform we would like to congratulate them and thank them for their contribution. It was our endeavor to successfully initiate these young minds into thinking about future mobility solutions and we hope that we have ignited the fire in these young minds.” Michelin Challenge Bibendum is the global summit for sustainable mobility. It’s the world’s only event that brings together car and truck makers, academics, equipment manufacturers, energy suppliers, research institutes, public authorities and nongovernmental organizations to forge a shared vision of tomorrow’s safer, cleaner transportation. The five day event also played host to 1,000 students, with a day of programs purpose-designed for them. For the first time – on May 21 and 22 – Michelin Challenge Bibendum was open to the general public. And because road mobility has to be experienced to be understood, a range of practical, real-world activities were organised for the two days. This was the first ever Michelin Challenge Bibendum event that played host to 11 Indian students and 5 distinguished professors who represented BITS Pilani, NIT Trichy, Anna University, VIT Vellore, Delhi Technological University and RV College of Engineering. The students and professors presented papers on subject matters like reducing CO2 pollutants, plug in parallel hybrid and Car with a feeling Bio inspired design among others which were well received by the global audience. It was also an opportunity for the Indian team to witness Challenge Bibendum and to interact with various stakeholders from the industry and in the process come face to face with challenges and opportunities in the area of sustainable mobility. In an endeavor to encourage young talent and to showcase technological innovations at the student level, Challenge Bibendum, Michelin India offered first-ever opportunity to an eight member team from RV College of Engineering, Bangalore to showcase its indigenous dual fuel hybrid ‘Chimera’ in the frame of the topic “For sustainable road mobility” During the felicitation ceremony in Chennai, each team rendered their experiences and thoughts from their being witness to the 11th edition of the Michelin Challenge Bibendum. They also gave a brief about their respective presentations at the summit. The students were felicitated and congratulated by the Chief Guest T T Ashok, Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Southern Region.