PUNE: Tata Technologies, a global product engineering and digital services company, today announced the launch of the 3rd edition of its flagship engineering innovation hackathon, InnoVent, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS). Building on the success of previous editions, InnoVent 2026 offers engineering students across India an inspiring platform to develop pioneering solutions that address real-world challenges across the mobility value chain. This year’s theme – Innovating the future of Smart Mobility invites engineering students across India to harness advanced technologies such as AI, Generative AI, Agentic AI, IoT, Embedded Software, Cloud Computing, Digital Twins, and AR/VR to develop impactful solutions addressing the most pressing challenges in the mobility sector. The project submissions for the hackathon could cover all key aspects of mobility, including software-defined vehicles, AI-powered embedded intelligence, autonomous AI agents for mobility systems, Agentic AI-based vehicle decision frameworks, sustainable mobility, intelligent manufacturing systems, connected and secure communications, and immersive driving experiences.

The hackathon is open to 3rd and 4th year engineering students across India and encourages inclusive participation, inviting entries from women engineers and differently abled team members. The evaluation process will consist of three stages: initial reviews, virtual Proof of Concept (PoC) presentations, and final demonstrations. Tata Technologies will empower the top project team/s with the innovation tools and technologies needed to develop scalable innovations. The Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from Tata Technologies will mentor and guide the top-performing project team/s to scale their projects, while AWS will offer the top team/s exclusive access to AWS cloud technologies and facilitate hands-on workshops to upskill the top teams on how to leverage the platform and develop innovative solutions. Projects will be assessed based on diversity, novelty, feasibility, and impact, with a special focus on physical prototypes. Special emphasis will also be placed on projects that showcase the capabilities of agentic systems in real-time decision making, adaptive learning, and collaborative task execution within a mobility environment.

Top-performing teams stand a chance to win cumulative cash prizes worth INR 4.5 Lakhs, paid internship opportunities at Tata Technologies, and special recognition awards for the most creative projects and innovative physical prototypes. More details of the InnoVent program are available at https://www.tatatechnologies.com/innovent/, and the last date for project submission is 30^th July 2025.

Commenting on the launch of the 3^rd edition of Tata Technologies InnoVent, Warren Harris, MD and CEO of Tata Technologies, stated, “Tata Technologies InnoVent underscores our continued commitment to engineering a brighter, smarter, and sustainable future. Through this collaboration with AWS, we are fostering an ecosystem where young engineers can innovate for smarter, cleaner, and more connected mobility. I am looking forward to the extraordinary ideas that this year’s edition will bring to life.”

Satinder Pal Singh, Head, Solution Architecture, AWS India and South Asia, commented, “We are pleased to collaborate with Tata Technologies on the third edition of InnoVent, a hackathon that provides young innovators in India with the opportunity to address real-world mobility challenges. By providing access to AWS cloud technologies and expert guidance, we aim to empower students to build transformative, scalable solutions, as well as develop technical skills—from IoT to artificial intelligence—to prepare them for the evolving demands of the industry. We look forward to the innovative smart mobility solutions that will be presented by this year’s participants.”

Santosh Singh, President & Global Head of Marketing and Business Excellence at Tata Technologies, expressed his enthusiasm on the launch of InnoVent 2026, “InnoVent offers young engineering students a platform to upskill on modern technologies and empower them with skills needed to innovate solutions that address the biggest challenges being faced by the mobility industry. This year’s focus on innovations that will shape the future of smart mobility highlights the importance of nurturing fresh ideas from young minds. We are excited to see how students leverage technologies like Agentic AI to innovate autonomous and intelligent solutions that redefine the boundaries of smart mobility.”

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NEW DELHI: The Esports Conclave 2025 emerged as a defining moment for Indian Esports, setting the tone for a new era of national policy, industry alignment, and global ambition. Hosted by the Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI), a National Sports Promotion Organization (NSPO) recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, in collaboration with KRAFTON India, Invest Indi, and NODWIN Gaming, the event, which concluded in New Delhi yesterday, brought together key decision-makers, innovators, and stakeholders from across the ecosystem.

The Conclave concluded with a collective commitment to prepare and submit formal Esports policy recommendations to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. This marks the beginning of a focused roadmap to integrate Esports into India’s broader sports and youth development policies.

The landmark event was graced by Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Hon’ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, as the Chief Guest. She lauded the efforts of all stakeholders in fostering an environment that promotes Esports talent and innovation. She also highlighted the sector’s potential in enhancing digital literacy, generating employment opportunities, and underscored the government’s commitment to positioning Esports as a mainstream sports discipline.

Speaking at the event, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Hon’ble Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports said, “E-sports is a realm of Sports Governance with fast-growing industry & immense potential. The Esports Conclave 2025 organized by the Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI) and supported by KRAFTON and Invest India aimed to discuss the potential and future of Esports and its role in global leadership. The discussions with industry leaders, policymakers, and gaming professionals highlighted key opportunities, challenges, and the future of competitive gaming in India. With the right policies and investments, India is set to become a global powerhouse in Esports!”

This comes at a time when Esports has been confirmed as a medaling sport at the Asian Games in Hangzhou and will be one in the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.  Additionally, ⁠the first edition of the Olympic Esports Games, a landmark event, both, in the world of Esports, and within the Olympic Movement, is scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2027.

Representatives from across sectors including gaming firms, government institutions, Esports platforms, training bodies, and startups participated in the discussions. Centered around the overarching theme of ‘Forging the Path to Global Leadership,’ the Conclave featured three high-powered panel discussions exploring the future of Esports in India, the country’s medal ambitions on the global stage, and strategies for building a robust Esports industry.

Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO, of KRAFTON India, opened the inaugural session and said, “India is at a pivotal moment in its Esports journey. With growing momentum across policy, talent, and investment, the country is well-positioned to lead the global Esports narrative. At KRAFTON, we’re proud to support this transformation by investing in talent, fostering innovation, and helping build a thriving, world-class Esports ecosystem. Supportive policies and a collaborative ecosystem will be key in propelling India to the forefront of the global Esports arena.”

“Esports is a rapidly growing sector and should be integrated into school curriculums. Establishing structured training programs and fostering grassroots development will be key to nurturing talent and paving the way for future Olympic success in Esports,” said Dr. Piyush Jain, National Secretary PEFI.

Some of the key attendees and speakers at the Conclave included:

Guests of Honor:

• Shri Bangararaju V.V.K.K. Thatavarthi Director-Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India
• Mr. Amulya Sah – Senior Vice President, Invest India
• Mr Anandeshwar Panday – General Secretary, Uttar Pradesh Olympic Association
• Ms. Shreya Singhal, IAS, Additional Director of Education, Government of Delhi

Among the other esteemed guests were:

• Mr. Akshat Rathee, Managing Director & Co-Founder, NODWIN Gaming
• Mr. Animesh Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO, S8UL
• Mr. Minho Yi, Vice President, Head of Esports, KRAFTON, Inc. (South Korea)
• Mr Karan Pathak, Associate Director, Esports, KRAFTON India.
• Mr. Udit Sheth, Founder & Managing Director, TransStadia & President, Yogasana Bharat
• Mr. S.N. Raghuchandran Nair, Vice President & Executive Director, Kerala Olympic Association
• Mr. Aman Garg, Chair, Commonwealth Youth for Sports Development and Peace Council
• Mr. Abhishek Aggarwal, Co-Founder & CEO, Trinity Gaming
• Mr. Siddharth Nayyar, Co-Founder, Max Level
• Ms. Kaveri Khullar, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sponsorships, Mastercard AsiaPac
• Dr. Piyush Jain, National Secretary, PEFI & Governing Body Member, SAI
• Dr. A.K Bansal, Dronacharya Awardee (Hockey), President – PEFI                             
• Sh. Aswini Sahoo, Consultant – Adventure Sports, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP         

Hon’ble MoS for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Khadse, delivering the keynote address at the Esports Conclave 2025 in New Delhi

The discussions covered critical themes including the rise of Esports in India, policy and investment opportunities, integration with traditional sports, career and revenue models, as well as strategies for international competitiveness, player development, and India’s medal ambitions on the global stage. This Conclave stands as the strongest statement yet of India’s commitment to elevating Esports to a new tier of recognition and respect. With active collaboration between government and industry and a formal policy submission on the horizon, India is setting the stage to become a global Esports leader.

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PUNE: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune launches the 2^nd edition of ‘STEM for All’ from 28^th February to 2^nd March 2025, at the Kalpakghar Community Tinkering Centre in Pimpri Chinchwad Science Park. This three-day event is a significant milestone in promoting STEM education and is made possible through the support received from Tata Technologies’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The ‘STEM for All’ theme, aligned with National Science Day, aims to empower Indian youth for global leadership in science and innovation, contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat.

The hands-on tinkering Hackathon 2025 aims to empower educators, teachers, Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) mentors, and students with innovative tools and methods for teaching science and learning more effectively. During the hackathon, participants will engage in identifying four key components/issues related to design and technology projects:

• Problem-solving by other means
• Focus on product quality
• Tasks that require specialized knowledge
• Concepts and skills necessary for making practical projects

The activity features diverse STEM activity presentations from participants across backgrounds, fostering a vibrant exchange of knowledge and ideas. The Hands-On-Tinkering Hackathon competition is one of the activities where students, teachers, and educators can get a chance to make working prototypes without batteries. Participating teams receive basic lab equipment and materials (e.g., MDF sheets, basic hardware tools, basic stationery, electronics components, etc.) and access to tools like online simulations, educational software, and virtual tools. Experienced teachers and education professionals provided advice and guidance throughout the hackathon. Short sessions on incorporating technology in classrooms, gamification in education, and best teaching practices were shared as well as a structured template to guide the creation of lesson plans for Educators/ATL mentors.  Participants stand the opportunity to win prizes for their innovative contributions, recognizing and encouraging their efforts in STEM fields.

Launched last August, the Kalpakghar Community Tinkering Centre, a collaborative project between IISER Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Science Park, is funded by Tata Technologies under its CSR initiative. Tata Technologies, through its CSR initiative, is committed to supporting programs that promote inclusivity and accessibility in STEM education. In line with the NEP 2020, the center aims to conduct STEM-tinkering workshops for PCMC school teachers and students

By supporting programs like the ‘STEM for All’ celebration, Tata Technologies aims to nurture young minds and contribute to the development of a scientifically literate and curious society, fostering a future of innovation and progress for India.

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