Smart Odisha Hackathon receives overwhelming response

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has received an overwhelming response for its first-ever hackathon to be organized during the forthcoming Make in Odisha Conclave 2018 (MIO).

The Smart Odisha Hackathon, registrations for which started on 13th September, has received over 4000 registrations from students across the country.

The idea submission phase is over and participation is closed. It was heartening to note that close to 40% of the registrations and ideas were received from students across Odisha.

Usha Devi, Minister for Skill Development said, “We are happy to see the phenomenal response to the hackathon from students across the country. We encourage budding entrepreneurs and students to come up with innovative solutions to resolve the pressing challenges of public service delivery as well as those that concern the industry and consumers.

It is encouraging to note that over 25% of the registered students are women which show rising availability of technically qualified female talent in the State. The shortlisted ideas will be implemented as pilot projects and winners will be awarded attractive prizes.”

The hackathon aims to encourage undergraduate and postgraduate students to identify innovative and disruptive IT solutions for public service delivery and governance.

Identified solutions will cover areas of skill development & employment, disaster management, healthcare, startups & entrepreneurship, public distribution system, urban problems, environment and climate change.

The most popular themes under which students have registered to develop software solutions are healthcare, education, ecology & environment apart from innovative projects in other sectors.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had launched the 36-hour Smart Odisha Hackathon in the run-up to the Make in Odisha Conclave 2018 during the Investors’ Meet conducted in Chennai last month.

Most of the registrations were received from students who would graduate in 2020 indicating great interest among third-year engineering students. The hackathon will be conducted on November 13th and 14th in Bhubaneswar during the MIO. More details on the hackathon can be found here.