Innovate4NPS Hackathon 2026 is envisioned as a strategic innovation platform that brings together students, startups, developers, and technology innovators to co-create scalable, future-ready solutions addressing key challenges in digital pension infrastructure. The initiative aligns with PFRDA’s vision of leveraging emerging technologies to strengthen governance, enhance subscriber experience, and improve service delivery across pension-related services.

Anchored by SIIC IIT Kanpur, the hackathon leverages the institute’s deep expertise in technology incubation, fintech innovation, cybersecurity, and startup mentoring to translate policy challenges into deployable digital solutions. SIIC IIT Kanpur is among India’s oldest and most active technology business incubators, having supported more than 500 startups to date.

The hackathon will focus on high-impact problem statements including simplified digital onboarding and KYC for NPS subscribers, predictive pension and retirement calculators, gamified pension awareness platforms, and AI-powered multilingual assistance, aimed at improving accessibility, transparency, and engagement within the pension framework.

The initiative offers prize money of Rs 19 lakh, along with six months of structured industry and academic mentorship, enabling shortlisted teams to convert innovative ideas into functional prototypes and proof-of-concepts with real-world applicability. Registrations for the hackathon are currently open, with the deadline set for 19 February 2026.

Highlighting IIT Kanpur’s role in the initiative, Prof. Deepu Philip, Professor in Charge, SIIC IIT Kanpur, said, “At IIT Kanpur, we believe that academic research and innovation must translate into definitive solutions that address national priorities. Through SIIC, we are supporting Innovate4NPS Hackathon 2026 to enable students and startups to work on real-world challenges in digital pension infrastructure, cybersecurity, and fintech innovation. This collaboration reflects our commitment to fostering technology-led solutions that strengthen public financial systems and create long-term societal impact.”

Speaking at the launch during E-Summit organised by the Entrepreneurship Cell of IIT Kanpur, Ms. Puja Upadhyay, Head – Media & Communications, PFRDA, said, “Innovate4NPS Hackathon 2026 aligns with the Government of India’s and PFRDA’s vision of building a pensioned society by 2047. Referring to the aim of Shri S. Ramann, Chairperson, PFRDA, expanding pension coverage in the private sector through the National Pension System (NPS) remains a key priority for the Authority. Achieving this vision would not be possible without digital innovation, which is essential to make NPS more accessible, inclusive, and user-friendly, while also enhancing awareness and outreach among citizen. The Hackathon is an initiative to further this goal by inviting students, fintech companies, and start-ups to develop innovative pension solutions, addressing a sector that remains largely untapped”

Through this collaboration, SIIC IIT Kanpur will serve as the academic and innovation backbone of Innovate4NPS Hackathon 2026, providing technical validation, structured mentorship, incubation support, and evaluation expertise. This ensures that high-potential solutions emerging from the hackathon are not only innovative but also robust, scalable, and aligned with India’s evolving digital pension architecture.

Innovate4NPS Hackathon 2026 reinforces PFRDA’s commitment to promoting innovation-led reforms, secure digital finance, and inclusive growth, while nurturing India’s rapidly evolving startup and innovation ecosystem.

Link to register: https://app.apixplatform.com/h1/pfrda2026

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The award ceremony was attended by senior leaders from GRID-INDIA and IIT Hyderabad, reflecting strong industry–academia collaboration. Implemented by SIIC, IIT Kanpur, the GIPSA programme follows a rigorous and transparent evaluation process to promote industry-relevant research. The initiative underscores GRID-INDIA’s commitment to nurturing young talent, fostering innovation and strengthening India’s journey towards a resilient and future-ready power sector.

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FUEL 2025 convened an ecosystem of venture capitalists, angel networks, corporates, government representatives, and academia, creating a platform for 20 SIIC-incubated startups to showcase their solutions in clean energy, defence and aerospace, healthcare, deep tech, agritech, medtech, and cybersecurity. Each startup engaged in focused 15-minute one-on-one pitching sessions with investors, exploring opportunities for funding, co-creation, and market expansion.

The event was formally opened with a Welcome Address by Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, who said: “Through FUEL 2025, we aim to strengthen the bridge between innovations and essential capital needed for taking these innovations from lab to commercially viable products. Our startup ecosystem has grown rapidly in the last five years, aligning with India’s Startup India mission. We’re creating special funds to enhance the rate of student and faculty startups, which will lead more ideas into real ventures. With the right support, we can build a much stronger innovation ecosystem.”

The Chief Guest, Shri Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, lauded the growing entrepreneurial spirit of India’s youth. He remarked, “Unlike earlier times when career options were limited, today’s young minds are boldly choosing startups as their path. The government is enabling this shift through initiatives like the Digital Agriculture Mission and Digital Crop Survey, giving farmers unique IDs linked to digitized land and crop records. These steps open vast opportunities for agri-tech startups in areas like precision farming, mechanization, and enhancing crop shelf-life.”

The Keynote Address was delivered by Shri Rahul Garg, Founder & CEO of Moglix, and a distinguished alumnus of IIT Kanpur, who shared lessons from his entrepreneurial journey. He stated: “There is no substitute for hard work, but success also comes from confidence balanced with humility. Entrepreneurs must not constrain themselves—large problems require bold solutions. Capital will follow if you remain passionate about the problem, execute well, and build with resilience. Above all, it’s important to enjoy the journey, as your energy inspires teams, investors, and customers alike.”

The event also featured an address by Shri Vinamra Mishra, Director (GA&TP), Ministry of MSME, Government of India, who emphasized the importance of collaborative platforms like FUEL in scaling innovative enterprises.

Among the event highlights, SIDBI’s SEED Equity Support (S4SIIC) was announced and disbursed to three SIIC-incubated startups — Lenek Technologies (₹1 crore), ScaNxt Scientific Technologies (₹96 lakh), and Voltworks (₹50 lakh). The EXIM Bank Seed Fund was launched by Shri Lakshminarayana Ponangi, General Manager, SIDBI, under the Ubharte Sitaare Programme to strengthen early-stage equity support for emerging ventures.

Two significant partnerships were formalized at FUEL 2025. An MoU was signed between SIIC and Samved VC to drive collaboration in consultation, leadership, mentoring, and digitization initiatives for startups. In another major step, SIIC and the Council for Start-up India (CSI) signed an MoU to jointly nurture entrepreneurship and support early-stage ventures by combining IIT Kanpur’s research strength with CSI’s outreach capabilities. The agreement was signed by Prof. Deepu Philip, Professor-in-Charge, SIIC IIT Kanpur, on behalf of SIIC, IIT Kanpur, and Shri. Pankaj Gupta, on behalf of CSI, in the presence of distinguished dignitaries including Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Ms. Meenu Ghosh, Vice Admiral S. N. Ghormade, Mr. K. Subramanium, and Mr. Piyush Mishra.

Showcasing the depth of SIIC’s portfolio, startups pitched breakthrough solutions: Chimertech presented advanced veterinary diagnostic kits; Prescience Insilico unveiled physics-based AI and scientific computing to accelerate R&D across pharma, materials, and FMCG sectors; Apeiro Energy displayed vertical-axis wind turbines; Adiabatic showcased upcycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries; Aerosys Aviation and Maraal Aerospace introduced advanced drones and solar UAVs; Genomiki offered cloud-based genetic diagnostics; and Acquafront Infrastructure highlighted modular floating infrastructure with scalable solutions such as floating solar beams and self-adjusting jetties.

Shri. Anurag Singh, CEO, SIIC IIT Kanpur, remarked: “Our vision is to make IIT Kanpur the country’s leading incubator by building on three strong pillars – mentorship, thriving startups, and a robust investor network. With more than 497 companies, 224 women-led ventures, and a combined valuation exceeding ₹11,640 crore, our ecosystem offers world-class infrastructure, faculty support, and investor access. We have made great strides, but our journey has only just begun and we’re determined to set new benchmarks for startup success.”

The event concluded with close-room one-on-one meetings between investors and founders, paving the way for deeper engagements and strategic partnerships. The Vote of Thanks was delivered by Prof. Deepu Philip, marking the successful close of a landmark event.

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Bengaluru, September 9, 2024: The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT Kanpur proudly participated in the prestigious three-day Armed Forces Festival, themed ‘Sashakt aur Surakshit Bharat: Transforming the Armed Forces,’ inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow, showcased the technological prowess and innovation driving India’s defence sector.

The festival featured an impressive display of military might and innovation, showcasing modern technology-based military weapon systems, including tanks, infantry weapons, and artillery guns. Attendees were captivated by thrilling demonstrations such as slithering, para jumps, and the insertion of special forces via helicopters. Additional highlights included paramotors, microlight flying, flypasts by fighter aircraft, and impressive horse, dog, and motorcycle displays.

During the grand showcase, Mr. Animesh Mishra, Manager of SIIC, IIT Kanpur, led a group of startups incubated under SIIC, all making significant contributions to the defense sector. Among the prominent technologies highlighted were the Alakh, Sabal 10/20, and Vibhram, a suite of surveillance and logistics drones developed by EndureAir Systems Pvt. Ltd. These drones are designed to enhance operational capabilities. Another featured innovation was the Maraal Solar UAV by Maraal Aerospace Pvt. Ltd., an indigenously designed and developed solar-powered UAV with extended endurance and cyber-attack resilient features.

Dream Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. showcased its Green Monopropellant Thruster, known as the Atom thruster, which utilizes a HAN-based non-toxic green fuel available in various thrust levels starting from 1N. Additionally, VU-Dynamics Pvt. Ltd. presented advanced aerial platforms, including a Kamikaze Drone, a Flying Wing for surveillance, and realistic flight simulators. Space Philic Private Limited introduced the RUPAK Launch Vehicle, a versatile dual-use system for civilian and military space operations, along with Engine Shakti, Engine Vibhu, and GP-300.

Cyethack Solutions Private Limited unveiled CyeNET, an AI-powered cybersecurity framework that combines AI-powered vulnerability scanning with manual penetration testing, offering a comprehensive solution for safeguarding critical systems.

These startups exemplify the spirit of innovation and dedication to enhancing national security through cutting-edge technology. Their products, developed under SIIC’s guidance, are poised to significantly contribute to the defence sector.

Prof. Deepu Philip, Professor-in-Charge of SIIC, IIT Kanpur, remarked, “We are immensely proud of the innovations our startups have brought to the defence sector. These young companies have showcased technologies that can significantly enhance our armed forces’ capabilities. This aligns perfectly with SIIC’s mission to encourage groundbreaking solutions for national security and complements the impressive display of military strength at this festival.”

SIIC, IIT Kanpur, extends its heartfelt congratulations to the armed forces for their unwavering dedication to protecting our nation. The festival served as a powerful reminder of their strength, courage, and the invaluable contributions they make to our country’s security.

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