SOA Ideathon sparks innovation

Bhubaneswar: SOA Ideathon 2026 brought together 456 student teams from Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University on September 1, 2, and 5. This internal hackathon gave young innovators a lively platform to turn creative ideas into real-world solutions. The university-wide event took place in two phases, starting with online rounds on September 1 and 2, and wrapping up with an exciting live finale on September 5.

Fifty shortlisted teams advanced to the offline finale after clearing multiple online evaluation rounds. These top participants now have the unique opportunity to submit their ideas for the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2026 selection process. Ultimately, the event highlighted SOA’s commitment to building a strong culture of innovation and technological excellence among its students.

During the offline round, the top 50 teams pitched their ideas and prototypes to an expert jury panel featuring professionals from leading organisations like Wipro, TCS, Infosys, the Department of Telecommunications, and the AIC-SOA Foundation. The panel evaluated submissions based on innovation, feasibility, prototype readiness, societal impact, presentation clarity, and teamwork. Following this rigorous review, the top 10 teams were named the official winners of the SOA Ideathon 2026.

To reward their innovation and performance, the winning teams received cash prizes. The first-place team took home Rs 30,000, while the second and third-ranked teams received Rs 20,000 and Rs 10,000, respectively. Additionally, teams ranking from 4th to 10th place were awarded Rs 5,000 each.

The grand event concluded with a valedictory ceremony graced by Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Vice-Chancellor of SOA, alongside other distinguished dignitaries. These included Manoranjan Parhi, Organising Chair and Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for SIH 2026; Pradeep Kumar Sahoo, Dean of the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER); and Lopa Mishra Jana, CEO of the AIC-SOA Foundation. Pankaja Sahu, Assistant Director General (Technology) in the Ministry of Communications’ Department of Telecommunications, attended as the chief guest.

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