The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025, an ambitious six-month-long competition designed to foster the development of innovative solutions using 5G technology. With a focus on mentorship, financial support, and access to state-of-the-art 5G labs, this initiative aims to empower students, startups, and professionals to create market-ready solutions addressing industrial and societal challenges.

What’s on Offer in the 5G Hackathon?

The hackathon offers a remarkable opportunity for participants to work with 5G technology in over 100 5G Use Case Labs, providing them with a platform to experiment, test, and develop solutions that could revolutionize industries. With a budget of ₹1.5 crore, the competition will provide not just financial support but also assistance with Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and a direct pathway to commercialization. The winners will get the prestigious opportunity to present their projects at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025.

Who Can Participate?

The hackathon is open to a diverse group of participants, including:

• Undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Startups
• Working professionals

The goal is to bridge the gap between research and real-world applications, enabling the creation of scalable solutions that leverage 5G’s advanced capabilities, including network slicing, IoT integration, and AI-driven automation.

Key 5G Applications to Focus On

The competition will focus on several cutting-edge 5G applications, such as:

• AI-driven network maintenance
• IoT-enabled solutions
• 5G broadcasting
• Smart healthcare
• Agriculture automation
• Industrial IoT
• Non-terrestrial networks (NTN)
• Direct-to-mobile (D2M) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication
• Quantum communication

These areas represent the next wave of technology, where 5G can transform industries ranging from healthcare to transportation to agriculture.

Funding and Cash Prizes

Participants will receive funding support during the competition. Teams selected in the prototype phase will receive ₹1,00,000 in seed money. The winners of the hackathon will also walk away with attractive cash prizes:

• First place: ₹5,00,000
• Runner-up: ₹3,00,000
• Second runner-up: ₹1,50,000
• Best Idea Award: ₹50,000
• Most Innovative Prototype Award: ₹50,000

In addition, ten labs will receive certificates for the Best 5G Use Case, and one institute will be recognized for having the Best Idea from an Emerging Institute.

How the Hackathon Will Unfold

The competition is structured into multiple stages to ensure proper development and refinement of ideas:

Stage 1: Proposal Submission (March 15 – April 15, 2025)

• Participants will submit proposals outlining their idea, the problem they are addressing, and how their solution works.
• Institutions can nominate up to five proposals. After a screening process, approximately 150-200 teams will be shortlisted.

Stage 2: Mentorship and Refinement (May – June 2025)

• The shortlisted teams will receive mentorship to refine their ideas and solutions.
• Top 25-50 teams will move to the next phase.

Stage 3: Prototype Development (June 15 – September 15, 2025)

• Teams will receive ₹1,00,000 to develop prototypes and will have access to 5G labs, industry experts, and technical infrastructure.
• If any solution qualifies for patents, IPR filing support will be provided.

Stage 4: Final Presentation (September 2025)

• Teams will present their prototypes to a panel of experts from government, academia, and industry.
• Judging will be based on the following criteria:
  • Technical Execution (40%)
  • Scalability & Market Readiness (40%)
  • Societal & Industrial Impact (10%)
  • Novelty (10%)

Final Results (October 1, 2025)

• The winners will be announced, and the top solutions will be showcased at IMC 2025.

Join the Future of 5G Innovation

The 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025 is more than just a competition—it’s an opportunity for students, startups, and professionals to be part of India’s next tech revolution. With support in the form of funding, mentorship, and access to cutting-edge resources, participants have the chance to develop solutions that could change the landscape of industries like healthcare, agriculture, and smart cities.

Whether you're interested in AI, IoT, or quantum communication, this hackathon offers a platform to bring your innovative ideas to life. The winners will not only earn cash prizes but also gain the recognition and exposure they deserve at IMC 2025, taking their work to the global stage.

Don’t miss out—this is your chance to make an impact in the 5G space!