Up to Rs 15 Lakh in Funding for Winning Ideas: MSME Hackathon 5.0 Opens Nationwide Call for Entries

AhmadJunaidJ&KJuly 8, 2025358 Views





   

SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is offering funding of up to Rs 15 lakh to promising innovators under its nationwide Idea Hackathon 5.0, a flagship initiative aimed at turning bold ideas into viable ventures. With applications open until July 14, this edition promises not just financial support but also structured mentorship, incubation, and national recognition for selected winners.

The programme is open to all Indian citizens between the ages of 18 and 60, cutting across professions and qualifications. Whether students, researchers, working professionals, entrepreneurs, MSME owners, defence veterans, or retired domain experts — anyone with a strong idea and a desire to solve real-world problems is encouraged to apply. Entries must be submitted through the dedicated portal at https://innovative.msme.gov.in.

Idea Hackathon 5.0 is part of the government’s broader drive to create a self-reliant India, aligned with the pillars of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and the long-term vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. It is designed to promote inclusive innovation and to give shape to home-grown solutions capable of addressing critical national challenges — from climate adaptation and cybersecurity to industrial automation and resilient supply chains.

The government has appointed a wide network of Host Institutes (HIs) across states and union territories to handhold selected innovators through the process of idea development and incubation. Participants can choose a Host Institute within their state or from any other location based on the institute’s thematic strengths and ability to support their idea. Once submitted, the proposals will undergo a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process involving domain experts, technical specialists, entrepreneurs, and final approval by the Ministry’s Project Monitoring and Advisory Committee (PMAC).

The evaluation will filter ideas across relevance, feasibility, scalability, and societal impact. Shortlisted entries will receive seed funding of up to Rs 15 lakh each, under the Incubation Component of the MSME Innovative Scheme, for converting their concepts into working prototypes or viable products.

This year’s Hackathon is focused on five strategic innovation themes. The first is low-carbon footprint technologies, which call for decentralised, renewable, and affordable energy solutions tailored for rural and semi-urban MSME clusters. The second invites innovations in stealth, surveillance, and cyber defence, including AI-powered surveillance tools, secure communication technologies, and AR/VR-based combat training systems. The third theme centres on the adoption of Industry 4.0 and 5.0 technologies — especially robotics, automation, and predictive digital platforms — to modernise India’s MSME manufacturing base.

The fourth theme targets the often-overlooked potential of coastal and hilly regions, seeking ideas that help MSMEs in these fragile geographies build resilience to climate change, strengthen local resource-based enterprises, and ensure continuity in times of natural disaster. The fifth focuses on smart and resilient supply chains, calling for AI- and IoT-enabled platforms that make MSME logistics more data-driven, transparent, and responsive to market disruptions.

Every submitted idea must carry genuine innovation value, whether in terms of user experience, product design, stakeholder engagement, or business strategy. Submissions will be judged not just on novelty but also on their potential to improve quality of life, reduce costs, and bring clean, scalable solutions to market.

In a statement, the Ministry said the Hackathon embodies the Prime Minister’s call for India’s youth and innovators to lead the country’s future. “This is a celebration of India’s grassroots ingenuity. MSME Idea Hackathon 5.0 gives aspiring innovators the support they need to translate ideas into real-world impact,” the Ministry said.

Applicants are advised to submit their entries before the deadline of July 14, along with valid identity proof (preferably Aadhaar) and, in the case of students, a valid student ID for FY 2025–26. More information, including application guidelines, can be found on the portal: https://innovative.msme.gov.in.

By creating a direct bridge between citizen innovation and government-backed funding, MSME Idea Hackathon 5.0 aims to nurture the next wave of enterprises that can transform India’s development trajectory and global competitiveness.



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