Smart India Hackathon 2019-gets underway

Persistent Systems in association with MHRD, AICTE, MIC, and i4C is organising Smart India Hackathon 2019 – Hardware edition. Students from Engineering colleges all across India participating in this year's Smart India Hackathon's Hardware edition will build practical hardware-based solutions on problem statements identified by 9 Union Ministries and 40+ private sector industries. The hackathon will be held over five days at 18 nodal centres in India from July 8-12.

• This year's Hardware edition received more than 20,000 idea submissions in response to 198 problem statements shared by 9 Union Ministries and 40+ private sector organizations

• A total of 250 teams are shortlisted this year for the grand finale and each team will consist of 6 students and up to 2 mentors from industry and/or academia

• 18 Nodal centers will host the finale

• Persistent was responsible for designing and creating online training sessions that have helped all SIH participants come up with compelling solutions. These trainings are available in MHRD's Swayam portal (https://swayam.gov.in/). They conducted several Facebook Live sessions for students' awareness and the key organiser for this initiative from its inception.

Dr. Anand Deshpande, Chairman and MD, Persistent Systems, and Co-Chairman, Smart India Hackathon 2019 said: "Smart India Hackathon offers students the opportunity to work hands-on and build innovative prototypes that address real-world problems. We have observed that Smart India Hackathon is a transformational event in the lives of the participants and encourages them to think beyond what they learn in their classroom."

Vivek Kulkarni, Chief Architect & Delivery Head, Persistent Systems, and Secretary, Executive Committee, Smart India Hackathon 2019 added: "Smart India Hackathon aids technology students to collaborate for effectiveness, problem solving, innovation and learning by doing. After the grand success of Software edition, now we are hosting Hardware edition Grand Finale on July 8-12, 2019 at 18 nodal centers PAN India. With 1 lakh+ student participation, the Hardware edition is 5 times grander than its predecessor. We are very sure that 1500 finalists will crack 198 complex problems given by 40+ private organizations and 9 Union ministries. Let's witness these young and bright minds innovate!"

Smart India Hackathon 2019 Highlights:

Software Edition – A 36-hour software product development competition was held on 2nd and 3rd March 2019

Hardware Edition –A 5-day challenge to build hardware-backed solutions to be held between 8th July and 12th July 2019