HACKMoR 2024, the inaugural National-Level Hackathon of the Manav Rachna University, organized by the Institution Innovation Council (IIC) and the School of Engineering at MRU and held from October 16th to 17th at Manav Rachna University campus, brought together over 200 participants across over 40 teams, representing 18 leading universities across India, to solve real-world problems through innovation and technology.
The 36-hour hackathon envisioned by Dr. Parneeta Dhaliwal, Director, IIC and her team saw Team Decode Apocalypse, from Punjab win the first prize. The second prize went to Team Furfuri Nagariya Wale, from Haryana, and Team BTrack earning the third prize. The three won a cash prize of Rs 25,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively.
HACKMoR aimed to inspire creativity and critical thinking among young minds, focusing on five key domains: Healthcare, Smart Cities, Environmental Sustainability and Solid Waste Management, FinTech, and Open Innovations. The themes were designed to reflect pressing global challenges, pushing participants to come up with innovative solutions that can shape the future of technology and society.
Prof. (Dr.) T. G. Sitharam, Chairman AICTE, Dr. Prashant Bhalla, President, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions (MREI), Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies (MRIIRS), and Dr. Deependra Kumar Jha, Vice Chancellor, MRU were present at the inaugural event of the hackathon.
Chairman AICTE, emphasized the growing role of entrepreneurship in India, stating: “India is now the third-largest startup hub globally. Innovation is critical across all sectors, and platforms like HACKMoR play a pivotal role in nurturing the entrepreneurial mindset of students.”
Speaking at the event, Dr. Prashant Bhalla, President, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions shared his vision “When we think of an idea, we should always envision how it can go global. Events like HACKMoR give young innovators the platform to push their boundaries and create solutions that have a far-reaching impact.”
In his valedictory address Dr. Vesa Nissinen, President, Deep Lead Inc., Finland motivated and congratulated the teams for their exemplary hard work and problem solving abilities. The ceremony was also graced by Dr. Sangita Banga, Pro Vice Chancellor, MRU, and Sh. R.K. Arora, Registrar, MRU.
10 Industry leaders and academic experts from Ms. Chandana Kuntala, Lead AI Systems Architect, ThredX – NYC(USA); Mr. Avinash Kumar, Senior Software Developer, Corporate Infotech Private Limited; Ms. Amrita Kaushal, Associate Projects, Cognizant Technology Solutions; Mr. Praveen Anand, Co-Founder, EX10 Global Solutions; Dr. Yogesh Kumar Chauhan, Senior Product Manager, HCL Technologies; Mr. Anurag Pandey, Founder, SciComm India; Ms. Reema Sahni Mediratta, Head i-TTO, FITT, IIT Delhi ; Mr. Setu Mishra, Vice President – Business Strategy & Operations, Enoble IP; Prof. (Dr.) B. S. Gill, Professor of Practice, MRIIRF and Prof. (Dr.) Suhail Javed Quraishi, HOD, Computer Applications, MRIIRS were brought in as judges to ensure comprehensive and insightful evaluations, contributing to the high standards of the hackathon.
The event concluded with participants presenting their innovative projects, showcasing skills and ideas that have the potential to bring about meaningful change in various fields.
