RETAIL ROBOTICS INNOVATION UP FOR NATIONAL AWARD

An innovation designed by a Birmingham student that promises to revolutionise retail through robotics has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award.

Dot Stores, designed by master’s student Rushikesh Bagul while at the University of Birmingham, uses autonomous robotics to create around-the-clock retail stores that can operate without human intervention.

Rushikesh, 25, has now been selected as a finalist in the Engineers in Business Champion of Champions competition.

He said: “The inspiration stems from the need we experienced for the availability of medical supplies 24/7 in remote areas. In these regions, there are limited shops, and none operate during the night. In emergency situations, especially during night-time, there are no options for obtaining vital medical supplies in these remote areas and villages. We aimed to develop technology that enables stores to operate 24/7 without human involvement, ensuring essential supplies are accessible to customers round-the-clock.”

“By creating autonomous Dot Stores, we’re bridging gaps in accessibility, ensuring everyone can obtain groceries and medications anytime, anywhere. This innovation democratises retail, making quality products available at supermarket prices, even in premium locations. Ultimately, our technology doesn’t just transform businesses; it empowers communities, promoting accessibility, efficiency, and affordability, thereby significantly improving lives.”

Rushikesh will now pitch his idea against nine other teams of student innovators at the event at the Royal Academy of Engineering on 3 November 2023. A sum of £16,000 is up for grabs, providing vital seed money to help the winners develop their innovation.

Winners will also receive mentoring from business leaders who are members of the Sainsbury Management Fellows network, plus CV packages from PurpleCV and entrepreneurial books from Cambridge University Press and Double your Price, a book by David Falzani MBE, which covers how pricing works with practical insights, tools and actionable guidance.

The event, hosted by TV presenter and engineer Rob Bell, is the culmination of a year of enterprise competitions held across UK universities, with thousands of undergraduate and graduates taking part.

Each year, Engineers in Business Fellowship champions business education for engineers and supports universities by giving them grants to award prizes to engineering students who develop ideas that can make a positive impact on society.

After taking part in the University of Birmingham enterprise competition and looking ahead to the final, Rushikesh said: “Teaching business skills to student and graduate engineers is crucial because it equips them with the ability to identify societal problems and transform them into opportunities for positive change.

“The competition offers crucial validation from judges who are experts in the field. This validation boosts our confidence and demonstrates the potential of our business idea. It acts as a stepping stone, helping us gain credibility and recognition in the competitive business landscape.”

Nicola Gittins, Deputy Director of the Student Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, Careers Network at University of Birmingham, said: “I was privileged to be at last years’ Champion of Champions competition and witness first-hand the impact of this opportunity. The chance for students to pitch to a panel of experts and receive feedback on their ideas is invaluable now and for their futures. We’re excited for Rushikesh and look forward to seeing what is next for him and his business.”