Bhubaneswar, Dec 1: Odisha’s thrust for emerging as a global powerhouse in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has received a powerful boost with the selection of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University here as the Central Zonal Nodal Centre for the Odisha Statewide Regional AI Hackathon 2025.
This announcement marks a significant step in accelerating AI-driven innovation across the state and sets the stage for a vibrant convergence of talent, technology and transformative ideas.
Organized under the patronage of the Odisha Society of the Americas (OSA) and Odisha AI, the hackathon aims to ignite creativity and problem-solving among students, innovators and young entrepreneurs, while positioning Odisha firmly on the global AI map.
As the designated nodal centre, SOA will coordinate activities and host the hackathon for the central zone districts of Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Nayagarh. This responsibility places the university at the heart of a statewide movement to mobilize emerging talent and drive impactful AI-based solutions for real-world challenges.
The hackathon acts as an important prelude to the Odisha AI Symposium scheduled for December 18, 2025. Rooted in the principles of the Odisha AI Policy, Odisha Vision, the India AI Mission and global advancements in artificial intelligence, the initiative seeks to strengthen AI awareness, inspire innovation-led problem solving and highlight cutting-edge ideas emerging from the region.
Participants are encouraged to explore and design solutions that reflect both local aspirations and international standards in AI development.
Participation is open to diploma, undergraduate, post-graduate and Ph.D students, as well as individual innovators and both registered and unregistered startups. Idea submission will close on December 5, 2025 followed by the first round of online evaluation on December 7, 2025. Shortlisted teams will move on to the final hackathon scheduled for December 10, 2o25 at AIC-SOA Foundation, at the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER).
The top three teams from the central zone will receive attractive cash prizes of Rs. 12,000 for first place, Rs. 8,000 for second place and Rs. 5,000 for third place. These awards have been sponsored by the IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed, with additional logistic support provided by the IEEE Communication Society. Beyond the monetary rewards, winning teams will be mentored by an expert panel to refine their concepts and present them at the Odisha AI Symposium where they will also have the opportunity to compete for further recognition and awards.
SOA Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Nanda extended an open invitation to universities, colleges, innovators, startups and media representatives across the central zone to participate in this significant initiative.
He emphasized the need to cultivate a strong AI ecosystem and uplift regional innovations to global standards.
Central Zonal Nodal Coordinator Dr. Bharat Jyoti Ranjan Sahu urged aspiring participants to register and seize this opportunity to contribute to Odisha’s rapidly evolving AI landscape. Dr. Sahu has urged interested participants to register at: https://odishaaisummit.org/hackathon.
