Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 16: The Skill, Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (SIIEDC), University of Jammu inaugurated Innovathon 1.0, a two-day National Hackathon, marking a significant step towards strengthening innovation, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning among youth.
The event was formally inaugurated under the patronage of Vice Chancellor, Prof. Umesh Rai. He declared the conference open and delivered the inaugural address, wherein he emphasized the pivotal role of universities in nurturing innovation ecosystems and preparing students for emerging technological challenges. He encouraged participants to think beyond conventional solutions and focus on creating technologies with real societal impact, adding that youth-driven innovation will be a cornerstone in achieving India’s long-term development goals.
The welcome address was delivered by Director SIIEDC, Prof. Alka Sharma. She highlighted that Innovathon 1.0 has been conceptualized to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry requirements, while nurturing startup-ready mindsets among youth through mentorship, collaboration, and hands-on innovation.
Innovathon 1.0 witnessed an overwhelming response from across the country, with participation spanning from Ladakh to Tamil Nadu. A total of 90 teams submitted applications, out of which 35 teams were shortlisted after a rigorous screening process.
The hackathon features five key domains including AI & Data Analytics; IoT, AR/VR, Drones and Cybersecurity; Sustainable Development; Health Tech and Social Impact; and Tech-Enabled Tourism. With a total prize pool of Rs 2.5 lakh, Innovathon 1.0 aims to motivate participants to transform innovative ideas into impactful, real-world solutions.
Among others present were, Prof. Anil Gupta, Prof. Sadaf Shah, Dr. Jatinder Manhas, Dr. Sandeep Arya, Dr. Pallavi Sachdeva, Dr. Sandeep Singh, along with other officials and faculty members of SIIEDC, who interacted with participants and encouraged them to pursue innovation-driven pathways.
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