Bhubaneswar, Sep. 7: A total of 456 teams took part in SOA Ideathon 2026, an internal hackathon organised exclusively for students of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) here on September 1 and 2, providing a platform for young innovators to transform their creative ideas into solutions addressing real-world challenges.
The two-phase event conducted by SOA witnessed enthusiastic participation from students across the university. The online rounds were conducted on September 1 and 2 which was followed by the offline finale on September 5.
Following the screening rounds and multiple stages of evaluation during the online phase, the top 50 teams were shortlisted for the offline finale. These teams will be given the opportunity to have their ideas submitted for consideration in the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2026 selection process. The event reinforced SOA’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and technological excellence among its students.
In the offline round, the top 50 teams presented their ideas and prototypes before an experienced panel of jury members comprising industry experts and professionals from organizations including Wipro, TCS, AIC-SOA Foundation, the Department of Telecommunications and Infosys, among others. The teams were evaluated on key parameters, including relevance to societal needs, feasibility, novelty and innovation, prototype readiness, clarity of presentation and teamwork. Based on the comprehensive evaluation by the jury, the top 10 teams were declared winners of SOA Ideathon 2026.
The winning teams were awarded cash prizes in recognition of their innovation and performance. The team which finished at the top received Rs. 30,000 while the second and third ranked teams received Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively. The teams which secured ranks between 4 and 10 received Rs. 5,000 each.
The grand event concluded with a valedictory ceremony graced by Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor, SOA, and other distinguished dignitaries who included Prof. Manoranjan Parhi, Organising Chair and Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for SIH 2026, Prof. Pradeep Kumar Sahoo, Dean, Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER) and Ms. Lopa Mishra Jana, CEO, AIC-SOA Foundation. Mr. Pankaja Sahu, Assistant Director General (Technology), Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, was the chief guest.
Prof. Renu Sharma, Additional Dean, Student Affairs, ITER, and Dr. Ashis Kumar Pati, Registration Chair of SOA Ideathon 2026, were also present on the occasion.
Strategic guidance for the event was provided by an Advisory Committee comprising Prof. D.N. Thatoi, Additional Dean, Academics, Prof. Debahuti Mishra, Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Prof. Ajit Kumar Nayak, Head of the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology.
Several faculty members and teams played important roles in the successful organization of the event. Complete event documentation in accordance with SIH guidelines was done by Dr. Sayantan Guha and his team while Dr. Sasanka Choudhury, Chief Coordinator, HR, was responsible for promotion and publicity.
Online registration, team management, and query resolution were handled by Dr. Ashis Kumar Pati and his team. The screening and evaluation process was coordinated by the team headed by Dr. Alakananda Tripathy while judging coordination was managed by Dr. Bharat Jyoti Ranjan Sahu and his associates.
Online software and technical support were provided by Dr. Ayes Chinmay, Dr. Amarjit Haty and their team while logistics and hospitality were efficiently managed by the team under Dr. Biswaranjan Swain.
The university has expressed its gratitude to the Ministry of Education, Government of India, for its support of transformative initiatives such as the Smart India Hackathon which encourages educational institutions to nurture the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers and change makers. Such initiatives strengthen the commitment to nation-building through technology, innovation and education, contributing meaningfully towards the Government of India’s long-term national vision of Vikshit Bharat 2047.
