Ravenshaw University Wins Odisha's First Defence-Themed AI Hackathon
In a pioneering event designed to channel the innovative spirit of Odisha's youth towards national security, the NM Institute of Engineering & Technology (NMIET) in Bhubaneswar successfully hosted "Nextech 1.0," the state's first-ever defence-themed AI hackathon. After two days of intense competition, a team from Ravenshaw University emerged as the winner, their solution impressing a distinguished panel of judges. The event, which brought together over 200 students from 30 different colleges, was a powerful tribute to the Indian armed forces and a testament to the vision of using education as a force for nation-building.
The Challenge To Build an Intelligent Defence System
The 50 teams participating in the hackathon were tasked with a single, complex, and highly relevant problem statement: to design and build an intelligent, AI-powered defence system for the Indian Armed Forces. The proposed systems had to focus on three critical areas: real-time monitoring of threats, ensuring secure communication channels, and developing effective, rapid threat-response mechanisms. This challenging and practical problem pushed the student teams to think creatively and apply their technical skills to solve a real-world national security issue.
A Tribute to a Visionary Founder
The event was held under the aegis of the NM Group of Institutions and was a reflection of the enduring vision of its late Founder Chairman, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Parida, who was a passionate champion of innovation and entrepreneurship through education. This sentiment was echoed by the institution's Vice Chairperson, Ms. Shilpa Parida, who described the hackathon as a "tribute to the countless sacrifices of the Indian armed forces." She emphasized that by "channeling young talent into defence-focused innovation," the institution was carrying forward Dr. Parida's belief in using education for the betterment of the nation.
The Winners and a Celebration of Innovation
After a rigorous evaluation process by a six-member jury comprising top government officials, scientists, and industry experts, the team from Ravenshaw University was declared the winner. Sri Sri University secured the first runner-up position, while GITA Autonomous College was named the second runner-up. In a special acknowledgment of out-of-the-box thinking, a jury prize was also awarded to the innovative idea presented by the students of IIIT Bhubaneswar. The success of Nextech 1.0 has not only provided a platform for young talent to shine but has also set a new benchmark for industry-academia collaboration in the critical field of defence technology in Odisha.
Hackathon Highlights
Inaugural Defence Hackathon: NMIET in Bhubaneswar hosted "Nextech 1.0," Odisha's first inter-college AI hackathon focused on the theme of "Defence and Safety."
Ravenshaw University Emerges Victorious: A team from Ravenshaw University won the competition, with Sri Sri University and GITA Autonomous College securing the runner-up positions.
Real-World Problem Solving: Over 200 students from 30 colleges were challenged to build AI-powered defence systems for real-time monitoring and threat response for the Indian Armed Forces.
Tribute to a Visionary: The event was a tribute to the late Founder Chairman of the NM Group, Dr. Ramesh Chandra Parida, and his vision of using education for nation-building.
