The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025, a six-month programme designed to foster the development of groundbreaking 5G-based solutions.
Open to students, startups, and professionals, the initiative aims to accelerate technological advancements by providing mentorship, funding, and access to over 100 5G Use Case Labs.
Participants will be encouraged to create solutions across key areas such as AI-driven network maintenance, IoT applications, smart healthcare, industrial automation, and quantum communication.
The programme offers support for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) filing, helping innovators secure their technological advancements.
The hackathon will be conducted in multiple stages. The initial phase will focus on proposal submissions, with institutions allowed to recommend up to five proposals each. Shortlisted teams will then move to the regional evaluation stage, where they will receive expert guidance.
Selected teams will advance to the Pragati Phase, where they will be granted ₹1,00,000 each to develop prototypes between June and September 2025. This phase will include access to 5G testing labs and mentorship opportunities to refine solutions.
A final evaluation will take place in late September, where a Technical Expert Evaluation Committee (TEEC) will assess projects based on execution, scalability, market readiness, and innovation.
Winners will be announced in October 2025, with the top teams showcasing their work at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025.
The first-place winner will receive ₹5,00,000, while the runner-up and second runner-up will be awarded ₹3,00,000 and ₹1,50,000, respectively. Special recognitions, including Best Idea and Most Innovative Prototype, will each receive ₹50,000.
With a ₹1.5 crore budget, the hackathon aims to generate over 50 scalable 5G prototypes and more than 25 patents while strengthening collaboration between academia, industry, and government.
The initiative aligns with India's broader vision to lead in 5G innovation by bridging research and market-ready solutions.
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