ASUS India, VIDYA Foundation Host Tech Fest 2026, Inaugurate Tinkering Lab

The programme has included a two-day Tinkering Bootcamp in March and a Summer Camp in April, followed by classroom-based project development

ASUS India, in partnership with VIDYA Foundation, hosted VIDYA Tech Fest 2026, bringing together students from ASUS-supported schools to showcase technology-led projects developed through digital literacy and tinkering programmes.

The event also marked the inauguration of a Tinkering Lab at VIDYA’s Powai centre, developed in partnership with ASUS India. Eric Ou, South Asia Regional Director, ASUS India, formally inaugurated the facility.

The Tinkering Lab provides students with a dedicated space to experiment and build projects across electronics, coding, Arduino, Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics. The facility is aimed at expanding the ASUS India and VIDYA Foundation partnership’s focus from digital literacy to hands-on, experiential technology learning.

At the Tech Fest, students demonstrated projects and interactive exhibits covering AI, robotics, coding, Arduino, Scratch, STEM and digital innovation. The projects were developed through classroom learning, bootcamps and hands-on sessions, giving students an opportunity to apply their technology skills to practical applications.

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The initiative builds on VIDYA’s Tinkering Clubs across ASUS-partner schools. Following a pilot programme, tinkering has been integrated into VIDYA’s Digital Literacy curriculum for students from Classes 5 to 9 for the academic year 2026–27.

The programme has included a two-day Tinkering Bootcamp in March and a Summer Camp in April, followed by classroom-based project development. The Tech Fest brought together these learning activities and provided students with a platform to present their projects to peers, educators and organisational leadership.

“Understanding of the evolving technology landscape becomes meaningful when students have the opportunity to move beyond learning concepts and apply them to real-world ideas,” said Eric Ou, South Asia Regional Director, ASUS. “ASUS and VIDYA Foundation’s Tech Fest 2026 is a reflection of that journey, showcasing how structured digital learning can build curiosity, creativity and confidence among young learners.”

According to ASUS India, its digital literacy partnership with VIDYA Foundation has reached more than 12,000 children and 650 youth across Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa over the past year, while engaging more than 1,100 women through digital awareness initiatives.

The programme currently spans 19 active projects, with digital learning delivered through computer labs, ASUS Vivobooks and a curriculum covering foundational computing, MS Office, programming, digital safety and AI literacy.

With the inauguration of the Tinkering Lab, ASUS India and VIDYA Foundation aim to further expand access to hands-on learning in electronics, coding, robotics and emerging technologies for students from underserved communities.

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Nitisha Dubey
Nitisha Dubey
Nitisha Dubey is a journalist at EFY. She focuses on startups and innovations with a deep interest in new technologies and business models.

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