At Smart India Hackathon 2025, young innovators race against time to craft solutions for real-world problems

Innovative students from leading engineering institutions transcended theory to face real-life problems and design innovative solutions at the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025 held at Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE) in the city on December 8.

The two-day event sees teams focus on technology optimization, utility efficiency, working under tight timelines, etc. It demands not only clarity of thought as it dives into issues, but also precision and speed in finding solutions.

SIH is conducted by the Innovation Cell (MIC), Ministry of Education, Government of India, and this is the eighth edition of the event. According to VVCE officials, it is one of India’s largest national innovation platforms that promotes creativity, problem-solving and entrepreneurial thinking among youth.

20 teams comprising a total of 140 participants started the race on the morning of December 8 to meet the deadline to come up with workable solutions based on problem statements provided by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

Rohith Aradhya, vice president and general manager of Barracuda Networks, opened the event and said that the world is on the verge of technological transformation, where information alone no longer provides any advantage.

”All kinds of information are at your fingertips, and what matters is how you use it, add value, and implement your ideas effectively,” he added.

Students were asked to understand the core problem they were addressing, visualize their solutions in a broader context, and refine them for a real-world setting and application. He said the Indian market is unique and the success of a product depends on its simplicity and relevance, not complexity.

VVCE principal Sadashive Gowda said students from across India participated with the common goal of contributing to the country’s journey from service-based to product-based economy.

“India aims to grow from a US$4.2 trillion economy to US$25-35 trillion by 2047. Creative, product-focused thinking by young innovators is essential to achieve the target,” he emphasized.

Convenor V. Ravikumar said SIH 2025 includes 60 nodal centers across the country, including VVCE, with the second highest representation from Karnataka. He said participants will address key problem statements as part of the expert jury evaluation. “These talents will compete to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges based on problem statements provided by AICTE, New Delhi,” he added.

Among those present at the meeting were Vidyavardhaka Sangha president Gundappa Gowda, secretary P. Vishwanath, Vidyavardhaka Sangha, treasurer Shrishaila Ramannavar and AICTE representative Akhilesh Kumar Singh.