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Event Date: Last date of Submission: 14th July, 2026

Event brief description

The MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0 presents a significant opportunity for GICRISE incubated startups, innovators, researchers, and student entrepreneurs to transform their breakthrough ideas into market-ready innovations. Launched by the Ministry of MSME under the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, the initiative offers funding support of up to ₹15 lakhs, along with expert mentorship, incubation, and prototype development assistance through approved Host Institutes. Startups working in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Automotive Technology, Industry 4.0/5.0, Robotics & Automation, and other frontier technologies can leverage this national platform to validate their innovations, accelerate commercialization, and contribute to India's rapidly evolving innovation and MSME ecosystem.

Event Detailed Description

About the Hackathon

In line with the vision of a Viksit Bharat @2047, the Ministry of MSME has launched MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0, open to all Indian citizens above 18 years of age. The initiative invites innovative ideas in renewable energy, energy efficiency, automotive technology, Industry 4.0/5.0, robotics & automation, and other frontier technologies — empowering innovators with funding, mentorship, and incubation support to turn ideas into impactful ventures. Selected ideas can receive funding support of up to ₹15 lakhs through approved Host Institutes (HIs) across the country.

How to Apply

Submit your idea through the official portal:https://innovative.msme.gov.in

Submission window: 27th June – 14th July 2026

Applicants must register on the portal and select a Host Institute (HI) of their choice while applying. It's advisable to review the HI's profile and capabilities before selecting it, as the choice cannot be changed after submission.

Evaluation Process

Submitted ideas go through a four-stage evaluation:

Host Institute (HI) Review – A panel of 3–5 domain experts at each HI evaluates and shortlists ideas.
Ministry Screening – MoMSME screens documentation for completeness before forwarding eligible ideas.
Domain Expert Selection Committee (DESC) – Thematic experts from industry, academia, and government evaluate and score ideas.
Project Monitoring & Advisory Committee (PMAC) – Final approval authority; approved ideas receive financial assistance as per scheme guidelines.

Themes for Ideas

Renewable Energy — To promote the generation, storage, management and productive use of renewable energy through MSME-led products and technologies. Participants may work on solar, wind, biomass, biogas, bioenergy, green hydrogen, hybrid energy systems, battery storage, second-life batteries, renewable-energy-powered machinery, decentralized energy systems or clean-energy components. Solutions may include solar dryers, coldstorage units, pumps, process-heating systems, compact storage devices, monitoring tools or indigenous components that improve energy access and create commercially viable clean-technology opportunities for MSMEs.
Energy Efficiency: This sub-theme invites practical and affordable ideas that help MSME units reduce energy consumption, production costs and process losses. Participants may propose machine-level energy-monitoring devices, efficient motors and drives, compressed-air leakage detection, waste-heat recovery, efficient boilers and furnaces, improved refrigeration and cooling systems, process-optimization tools, thermal insulation, power-quality improvement or low-cost energy-solutions. Ideas should preferably demonstrate measurable energy savings and should be suitable for retrofitting or adoption by existing MSME units with limited capital and technical capacity.
Automotive Technology: This sub-theme seeks innovative ideas and prototype-ready solutions addressing emerging requirements across automotive manufacturing, electric mobility and mobility-support ecosystems. Participants may develop indigenous automotive components, electric motors and controllers, battery-management and thermal management systems, charging and battery-swapping technologies, vehicle electronics, embedded systems, sensors, connected-vehicle solutions, lightweight and advanced materials, safety technologies, alternative-fuel systems, diagnostic equipment, testing tools and precision-manufactured parts. Ideas may also address component remanufacturing, vehicle maintenance, end-of-life vehicle recovery and digital solutions for automotive suppliers.
Industry 4.0 and 5.0: This sub-theme invites ideas that can make MSME manufacturing more connected, intelligent, flexible and human-centric through technologies such as the Internet of Things, digital twins, artificial intelligence, machine vision, cyber-physical systems and smart production monitoring. Participants may develop affordable sensors, machinery retrofitting solutions, predictive-maintenance tools, digital work instructions, production, worker-assistance systems, product traceability solutions or other technologies that allow MSMEs to modernize existing operations without requiring complete replacement of their machinery and infrastructure.
Robotics and Automation: This sub-theme seeks affordable and adaptable automation solutions designed specifically for the scale and operating conditions of MSMEs. Participants may develop pick-and-place systems, machine-tending solutions, automated inspection tools, robotic welding or finishing systems, material-handling equipment, autonomous factory vehicles, computer-vision-based automation, modular controllers, adaptive grippers or retrofit kits for conventional machinery. Solutions should focus on ease of installation, safety, affordability, simple programming and suitability for small-batch, high-variety or labour-intensive production environments.
Other Frontier Technologies: This sub-theme invites innovative ideas in emerging and high-growth technology sectors not fully covered under the preceding categories, including advanced materials, drones, space technology, defence and dual-use technologies, medical devices, electronics and other high growth sectors. Participants may propose indigenous components, advanced coatings and composites, drone payloads and control systems, satellite-enabled applications, portable defence or communication systems, affordable diagnostic and assistive devices, embedded electronics, precision-engineered products, testing technologies or other solutions with clear potential for domestic manufacturing, import substitution, commercialization and exports.

What We're Looking For

All ideas should reflect innovation across key dimensions — marketing & branding, ideation, technology, co-creation, social impact, entrepreneurship, open innovation, and business model innovation.

Ideas should:

Be novel, scalable, and beneficial to society
Reduce costs and improve quality of life
Support clean and green energy goals
Be backed by valid age proof and (for students) a valid Student ID

Ideas should not:

Infringe on originality or established science
Reveal applicant/MSME identity within the concept note
Reference external research papers, articles, or individual/firm details

Support Provided

Approved ideas receive funding support of up to ₹15 lakhs, along with incubation support under the MSME Innovative Scheme to help develop the idea into a working prototype.
For full guidelines and to apply, visit:https://innovative.msme.gov.in or https://my.msme.gov.in/inc/

Department Name –GICRISE