Expressnews
Chennai: KCG College of Technology, a unit of the Hindustan Group of Institutions, will join 50 other nodal centres across the country to host the seventh edition of the prestigious Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024 – Software Edition on December 11 and 12, 2024.Organised by AICTE, the Ministry of Education, and the Institute Innovation Council (IIC), this 36-hour national event will spotlight India’s brightest young innovators. The national-level inauguration is expected to be graced virtually by Union Minister for Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.
Dr K. Radhakrishnan, IPS (Retd.), Former Director General of Police and Member of the Fifth Police Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu, will serve as the Chief Guest, and Mr James Howe, International Business Manager, IET, London, as the Special Guest for the inaugural function at KCG College of Technology.
As one of the four nodal centres in Chennai selected for the SIH Grand Finale, KCG College of Technology will host 22 teams comprising 120 talented students from across India. This year, 17 themes have been identified for the SIH Grand Finale, and KCG College will focus on the theme ‘Revolutionizing India’s Postal Infrastructure through Technological Innovation.’ This theme addresses a problem statement provided by the Ministry of Communications’ Department of Posts.
Adding to the pride of KCG College of Technology, eight exceptional student teams have been shortlisted for the SIH Grand Finale. The shortlisted teams comprising three in the hardware category and five in the software category will represent the institution at various nodal centres across the country.
In the hardware category, Team WINDTECH will create an innovative solution to advance technology, while Team FUSION SIX will redesign an aerospace component using Fusion software, focusing on Generative Design, Topology Optimization, and 3D printing efficiency. Team TECHAZURE will also contribute a student-driven technological innovation.
In the software category, Team ESPRESSO will develop a Smart Competency Diagnostic and Candidate Profile Score Calculator for Punjab Govt. to streamline recruitment and development processes. Team INFINITE REALITY will create an immersive Virtual Herbal Garden showcasing medicinal plants used in AYUSH. Team NAGRIK AUR SAMVIDHAN will simplify the learning of the Indian Constitution for citizens. Team PAC_BOT will design an autonomous water surface cleaning robot for environmental sustainability. Team IGNITE will develop an AI-driven Intelligent Enterprise Assistant for GAIL and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The talented teams have been carefully selected from a pool of national contenders, and their participation in the SIH Grand Finale represents not only their individual skills but also the excellence of KCG College of Technology’s focus on innovation and problem solving.
The Smart India Hackathon, initiated in 2017, is India’s largest open innovation platform, designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by addressing real world problems through technology. With over two lakh students participating annually, the event continues to be a cornerstone for nurturing the nation’s entrepreneurial and technological expertise.
The Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2024 has seen record-breaking participation, marking this year’s edition as the largest to date. Over 250 problem statements have been submitted by 54 Ministries, Departments, State Governments, PSUs, and Industries, addressing a wide range of challenges for students to solve.
A remarkable 240% increase in internal hackathons at the institute level, rising from over 900 in SIH 2023 to more than 2,247 this year. As a result, SIH 2024 has attracted participation from more than 86,000 student teams at the institute level. Around 49,000 student teams, each comprising six students and two mentors, have been recommended by these institutes to compete in the national level round.
The SIH grand finale also serves as a unique platform for open interaction between officials from various Ministries and government departments, as well as students and teachers from educational institutions. This interaction fosters collaboration and provides valuable exposure to both students and educators, further encouraging their participation in national initiatives.
The challenges this year cover 17 critical sectors of national importance, including Healthcare, Supply Chain & Logistics, Smart Technologies, Heritage & Culture, Sustainability, Education & Skill Development, Water, Agriculture & Food, Emerging Technologies, and Disaster Management.
A significant aspect of SIH’s success is the Alumni Network. Through its dedicated portal (https://alumni.mic.gov.in/), the network has documented numerous success stories, illustrating the transformative outcomes of the hackathon. To date, over 100 startups have been established by SIH alumni, many with strong social impact, underscoring the profound influence SIH has had on India’s innovation landscape.
KCG College of Technology, Director Dr. Annie Jacob noted that successfully hosting this prestigious event will further reinforce the institution’s alignment with its mission as a hub for innovation and excellence in engineering education.
