Kolkata, August 10, 2024 The Institute Innovation Council (IIC) organised an exhilarating “Techno Hackathon” on August 8th and 9th, in association with the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (AIML) and CSE (Data Science). This high-energy event, held in collaboration with The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), Kolkata, brought together some of the brightest young minds to solve real-world challenges through technology and innovation. The two-day event brought together tech enthusiasts from across the region, challenging them to solve real-world challenges using creative solutions in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science.
Day 1: Idea and Implementation (August 8) On the first day, all participating teams presented their AI-based application ideas focused on specific domain areas, such as healthcare, financial, education, transportation, retail, state cities, agriculture, and entertainment. The event featured presentations from 38 teams, out of 58 registered teams, comprising approximately 125 participants. This step was critical as it allowed each team to exhibit their creative ideas and demonstrate their potential impact. The participants’ suggestions were diverse, displaying their ingenuity and technical expertise. The teams showcased their ideas to a distinguished panel of judges, including Dr. Shibaprasad Sen (MCKV), Dr. Tapashi Bhattacharjee (TINT), Dr. Madhurima Chattopadhyay (Heritage Institute of Technology), Dr. Joyti Sekhar Banerjee (Bengal Institute of Technology), Dr. Shushant Kumar Bhattacharjee, the retired Principal of Techno Main Salt Lake, and Dr. Abhishek Das. The judges selected ten teams for their originality, technical depth, and potential impact, allowing them to advance to the next competition phase.
Day 2: Business Plans and Startup Ideas (August 9) The second day was similarly intense and thrilling, with the top ten teams from Day 1 taking the stage to present their business plans and startup ideas centred on their AI-powered applications. During this phase, teams were needed to not only develop their technical solutions but also describe their projects’ market potential, business viability, and execution strategy.
The event began with ceremonial lamp lighting, led by Dr. Soumik Das, Vice Principal, Head of CSE (AIML) and CSE (DS), TMSL, Prof. Soumitra Sasmal, Registrar, TMSL, Dr. Dharmadas Mandal, Dean of Academics, TMSL, Dr. Sudipta Chakrabarty, IIC Convenor, and Prof. Subhajit Bhowmick, IIC President. Following the inauguration, speeches were delivered by these dignitaries, emphasising the importance of innovation, entrepreneurship, and the role of AI in shaping the future. The day continued with the business plan presentations, where teams were evaluated based on the viability, scalability, and social impact of their ideas.
Winners and Awards: The judges were impressed by the quality of the projects, making the selection of winners a challenging task. The hackathon concluded with the announcement of the winning teams. The awards were distributed as follows:
Winner: Team Decodians, CSE (AIML), TMSL
• 1st Runner-Up: Pill-Pals, EIE, TMSL
• 2nd Runner-Up: Symphony Surfers, CSE (DS)
• 3rd Runner-Up: MediTrack, EIE, TMSL
The awards were presented by Prof. (Dr.) Dipankar Bhattacharyya, Principal of TMSL, along with other dignitaries. The event was a significant success, providing students with invaluable experience and recognition for their innovative efforts.
Dr. Sudipta Chakrobarty, the organising chair, emphasised that such events help students gain practical skills and convert ideas into business solutions. Future hackathons will include more industry experts and collaborations to better prepare students for the global job market. He anticipates these initiatives will lead to real-world applications. He also emphasised that “This is the vision of our honourable chairperson, Prof. (Dr.) Goutam Roy Chowdhury, sir.”. He envisions a future where every student, faculty member, and employee of TMSL, as well as individuals globally, are empowered with the knowledge of AI.
The Techno Hackathon 2024 was a key platform for aspiring technologists to collaborate, innovate, and gain practical experience. It emphasised interdisciplinary teamwork and addressed real-world challenges, providing valuable exposure in the tech industry. This successful inaugural event set a high bar for future hackathons, showcasing the Institute Innovation Council, CSE departments, and IET Kolkata’s commitment to nurturing future innovators. Participants left with not only prizes and recognition but also a renewed passion for technology and a robust network of peers and mentors to support their future endeavours.