Centre for Innovation& Social Transformation
The Centre for Innovation and Social Transformation has a goal to help students contribute to socio-economic environmental growth in various communities. Encouraging innovative thinking and problem-solving skills, CIST gives students the opportunity to work with local community members, and identify their most pressing challenges. They then design and develop technology –based solutions, to improve the quality of living in these areas. Through capacity building and community- based learning programs, CIST aims to instill principles of Sustainable Development and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). Students involved in CIST activities are expected to emerge as leaders in the community, with a high sense of moral and civic responsibility towards the development of the country.



Vision
To become a centre of Excellence that fosters an ecosystem to promote engagement, innovation, and research leading to sustainable socio-economic development in the community.

Mission
- To inspire faculty and students to become innovators and change makers who promote sustainable living and development in the community.
- To facilitate reciprocal partnerships with rural communities through community-based learning experiences designed to identify and solve real-time problems.
- To provide students with service-learning experiences in collaboration with non-profit organizations to develop student-driven innovations aimed o achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
- To undertake research projects in partnership with local communities through community-based participatory research methods.
United NationsSustainable Development Goals

Out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals, KGRCET is mainly focused on the following areas:
CoursesOffered
List ofPartnered Villages
CIST has partnered with 15 villages from different districts to enrich the students in a socially responsible way and to apply the academic knowledge to the social cause
Partnered Organizations –MoU's
- BVIC-CSRB
An MOU has been signed between KGRCET and CSRB to collaborate on research and development projects in the field of sustainable energy. - Palle Srujana
An MOU has been signed between CIST-KGRCET and Siddatva Foundation to collaborate on Community Engagement and to conduct Gnanshodh. - Siddatva Foundation
An MOU has been signed between CIST-KGRCET and Siddatva Foundation to collaborate on Community Engagement and STEM Activities.
CISTProjects
FundedProjects
AwardsReceived
- The Center has received the GEDC Quanser Global Sustainability Award-2024 in Sydney, Australia
- Dr Samyuktha Penta, Head of CIST, served as a panel member at the IRSPBL Conference on November 19, 2025, at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
- Received Innovator Award from Telangana State Innovation Cell (TSIC) with a support of Rs. 1 Lakh for each project to develop the 3 Prototypes
- Mrs P. Samyuktha received an award for Community Outreach Through Projects by IUCEE at the ICTIEE-2023 Conference in Mysore.
- Mr B. Lingam received an award for Community Outreach Through Projects by IUCEE at the ICTIEE-2023 Conference at Mysore
CISTAchievements
- “High-Speed, Low-Cost PLC Based Incense Stick Making Machine” deployed in Sri Ram Nagar village.
- Mrs. P. Samyuktha, Head of CIST, has secured a fund of Rs: 4,00,000.00 From YUKTI Innovation Challenge 2023, supported by AICTE/MIC
- Sackhe Technologies Pvt Ltd Startup from KGRCET. Received Grant of NIDHI PRAYAS Grant of ₹4 lakhs from SR Innovation Exchange (SRiX)
- Mrs. P. Samyuktha, Head of CIST, received a fund of Rs. 1,00,000 under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) for a novel approach to detecting dangerous species (snakes and other harmful insects) to prevent human-species collisions and improve agricultural productivity.
- Mrs. P. Samyuktha, Head of CIST, and Mr. B. Lingam Associate Head of CIST received a fund of Rs. 1,00,000 under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) for anIntegrated Smart Solar Fencing with Blue Lights and Sound Repellent to Protect the Crop from Wild Boars, Monkeys, Peacocks and Parrots.
- Mrs. P. Samyuktha, Head of CIST, received a fund of Rs. 1,00,000 under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) for a Agricultural Tool to Cut and Bind Leafy Vegetables: Ergonomic Solution to Avoid Health Issues for Farmers.
- Sackhe Technologies Pvt Ltd one of our Startup cohort at KGRCET. Received a grant of ₹4 lakhs from SR Innovation Exchange (SRiX) under NIDHI PRAYAS Scheme
- 8 student teams from CIST, along with 9 other teams from different colleges in Hyderabad, participated in the project Expo at the First International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research and Sustainability at KG Reddy College of Engineering and Technology on February 23, 2024. They showcased their projects. Esteemed jury members from TSIC, IGBC, and RICH evaluated the projects. One of our CIST teams won the prize.
- PAL’s InnoWAH final Winners 2024
- Three teams from CIST rocked the recent Hackathon at G Narayanamma Institute of Technology & Science, V. Saiteja’s first-year Data Science team made it to the second round of the Green Credit Management competition among 100+ teams nationwide. On May 3, 2024,
- 3 teams of CIST students and 3 number of faculty members attended the Lab 2 Market Pitching Conclave at IIT Madras on May 10, 2024.
Activities Undertaken byCIST
Outreach Programs
- Village Visits for Problem Scoping
- NGO Visit
- Gnanshodh in Association with Palle Srujana
SDG Related Activities
- EWB Student Chapter Activities
- UBA Activities
- STEM Activities
Extension Activities
- Ideathon and Hackathon for the CIST Courses
- SDG Related activities
- Sahyog in Association with KASE
















