NIT Srinagar Bags National MSME Hackathon 5.0 Recognition, Two Jammu Kashmir Innovations Secure Rs 30 Lakh Funding | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar has achieved a significant milestone with the selection of two innovative projects under the Ministry of MSME Innovative Scheme during the MSME Hackathon 5.0 at the national level.

Acting as the host institute and implementing agency for the MSME Innovative and Design Schemes in Jammu Kashmir, NIT Srinagar continues to play a pivotal role in fostering innovation-driven entrepreneurship in the region.

Each of the selected projects has been awarded a grant of Rs 15 lakh, with 75 percent funding from the Ministry of MSME and 25 percent contribution from the incubatees, aimed at supporting the development and commercialisation of advanced technologies.

Earlier, under the MSME Innovative Scheme, four technologies had already been selected for incubation support at the institute. Out of these, three prototypes have been successfully developed and are now progressing towards commercialisation, including a saffron processing machine developed by Dr Tariq Ahmad, a seed sowing machine by Er Abdul Naik Qayoum, and a water cycle innovation by Dr Dinesh Kumar Rajendra.

The fifth edition of the MSME Hackathon witnessed nationwide participation, with 45 innovative ideas submitted through the MSME Innovative portal hosted by NIT Srinagar. Following a multi-stage evaluation by institute experts and a national-level expert panel, only two projects from Jammu Kashmir were selected for incubation support.

The first selected project, “IoT-Based Vermicompost Machine (IDEAJK032175),” has been proposed by Mohammad Muzamil of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST). The project focuses on an IoT-enabled system for efficient vermicompost production using biodegradable waste, aimed at promoting sustainable waste management and organic farming.

The second project, “Low-Cost Multispectral Drone Imaging for Detection of Power Infrastructure Faults (IDEAJK033470),” proposed by Rutba Majeed, aims to improve inspection and monitoring of power infrastructure by detecting structural anomalies, insulation defects, and surface damage, thereby enhancing safety and reducing maintenance costs.

The success of these initiatives has been attributed to the leadership of Dr Saad Parvez, Chairman of the MSME Innovative Scheme, and Dr Noor Zaman Khan, Incubation In-charge, who guided the projects through various stages of development.

NIT Srinagar Director Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia and Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman congratulated the MSME team and innovators, stating that such initiatives provide a strong platform for transforming ideas into viable technologies with financial support from the Ministry of MSME.

Faculty members, including Dr Mohammad Hanief and Prof Roohie Naaz, also highlighted that sustained success in national-level platforms reflects the growing innovation ecosystem at NIT Srinagar, positioning it as a hub of research-driven technological development in the region.