Agartala, Oct 2: Innovation that moved beyond the laboratory and reached communities took centre stage at Tripura University’s 40th Foundation Day celebrations, when Assistant Professor (Er.) Harjeet Nath of the Department of Chemical & Polymer Engineering was honoured with the ‘Innovation & Extension Award–2026’.

Nath was presented the award, along with a Letter of Commendation, by Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha during the Foundation Day programme in recognition of his work in innovation, extension activities, community engagement and technology-driven interventions aimed at addressing social challenges.

The recognition marks another notable milestone in Nath’s recent journey. He has received three honours over the past two weeks for his contributions to innovation and social impact, highlighting the growing recognition of his efforts to translate academic ideas into solutions with practical community applications.

His work has also been associated with the development of HN Technovations, one of the early campus start-up initiatives to emerge from Tripura University’s incubation ecosystem through the Tripura University Business Incubation Centre (TUBI).

At the heart of the initiative is InstaWater, a range of portable and decentralised water purification solutions developed to address drinking-water challenges in locations where conventional treatment infrastructure is difficult to establish or has been disrupted.

The technology has been designed for use across a wide range of settings, including remote villages, schools, community spaces and disaster-affected areas. What began as a university-based innovation has gradually evolved into a field-oriented technology, with its systems being deployed in different parts of the country.

One of the most significant applications has been during flood emergencies. InstaWater systems have been deployed in flood-affected areas of Assam and Tripura, as well as other parts of the country, to help communities access safe drinking water when conventional supply networks are disrupted.

The decentralised approach enables water treatment closer to affected populations, potentially reducing the dependence on transporting large quantities of packaged drinking water during emergencies. The technology has subsequently reached several remote and disaster-affected locations, including recent deployments in Bihar.

Beyond disaster response, the initiative has also explored applications in remote schools and community settings, bringing together technological innovation, public health, sustainability and social welfare.

The journey of InstaWater reflects a broader effort to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world needs. Through HN Technovations and the university’s incubation ecosystem, an idea originating within the campus has gradually moved towards field deployment and community-oriented applications.

For Nath, the recognition at Tripura University’s 40th Foundation Day is therefore not merely an acknowledgement of an individual achievement but also a reflection of the potential of university-led innovation to address pressing challenges beyond the classroom and laboratory.

Speaking on the occasion, Nath thanked Tripura University, the Chief Minister, his students and colleagues, collaborators, the HN Technovations team, community partners and his family for their support and encouragement throughout the innovation journey. He said the recognition was a reflection of collective effort and reaffirmed his commitment to developing solutions with meaningful social impact.

The award assumes added significance as Tripura University marks its 40th year, underscoring the institution’s growing role in nurturing innovation, entrepreneurship, extension activities and research aimed at addressing real-world challenges.

“The recognition inspires us. The responsibility drives us. The journey continues,” Nath commented.