Techno India Innovation Extravaganza: Smart India Hackathon 2023 Takes Off with Grandeur!

The grand inauguration of Smart India Hackathon 2023 unfolded at the vibrant grounds of Techno Main Salt Lake and Techno India University campus grounds, graced by esteemed dignitaries, industry leaders, and visionaries. Special Guest B Chandra Mohiyar, Director, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law; Chief Guest, Rabi Chowdhury, Managing Director (Generation) of CESC Limited and Sankar Nath Mukhopadhyay, Director CESC Limited, Guest Of Honour, Dr Subhashis Datta, Controller of Examinations, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, West Bengal, Chief Guest, Sankar Ghosh, Managing Director, Accenture Solutions Pvt Ltd, Guest of Honour, Abhishek Rungta, Founder & CEO, Indus Net Technologies, Professor Manoshi Roychowdhury, Co-Chairperson, Techno India Group, Meghdut Roychowdhury, Founder, Make Calcutta Relevant Again and Chief Innovation Officer, Techno India Group and Pauline Laravoire, Co-Founder & CEO, Y-East & Sustainability Director, Techno India Group, added their aura to the event. The inaugural ceremony was followed by the opening of the West Bengal leg of the competition.

This nationwide initiative, organised by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, is aimed at providing a dynamic platform for students to tackle real-world challenges faced by government bodies, ministries, industries, and organisations. The Smart India Hackathon, hailed as the world's largest open innovation model, cultivates a culture of product innovation and problem-solving among students.

Since 2017, the Smart India Hackathon has been conducted every year in two formats, namely, SIH Software and SIH Hardware editions for higher education students. Last year in 2022, Smart India Hackathon - Junior was also introduced for school students to build a culture of Innovation and problem-solving attitude at the school level.

In its journey thus far, the Smart India Hackathon has expanded its horizons, witnessing a surge in participation and enthusiasm. This year, over 12,000 participants, egged on by the guidance of over 2,500 mentors, will converge at designated nodal centres to address critical problem statements during the grand finale of the event.

Techno Main Salt Lake and Techno India University campuses are abuzz with 21 teams and 126 participants, competing fiercely to solve four problem statements from the Ministry of Law and Justice. The Techno India University campus hosts 22 teams with 154 participants, taking on four problem statements from the Department of Justice. The stakes are high, with each problem statement offering a winning amount of ₹1 lakh.

Professor Manoshi Roychowdhury, Co-Chairperson of Techno India Group, expressed, “Empowering the next generation of innovators is at the core of our vision at Techno India Group. As we inaugurate the Smart India Hackathon 2023, with Techno India University and Techno Main Saltlake as the nodal centers for Kolkata, we embark on a journey to foster creativity, collaboration, and technological excellence. This event not only showcases our commitment to nurturing talent but also emphasizes the pivotal role of technology in shaping a smarter and more sustainable future for India."

The Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education, has designated 47 higher educational institutes/ incubators as Smart India Hackathon nodal centres. These centres play a pivotal role in hosting participants and ensuring the smooth execution of the event.

Honouring the tradition, the honourable Prime Minister of India is set to interact with the student participants of the Smart India Hackathon 2023, reinforcing the significance of this transformative initiative in shaping India's innovative landscape.