Events / IKIGAI 2026
National Hackathon Completed Community Partner

IKIGAI 2026

Intelligent Knowledge Integration for Global AI Innovation

A 36-hour National Level Hackathon organised by the Department of CSIT & CSE(CY), Acropolis Institute of Technology & Research (AITR), Indore, in collaboration with IIT Ropar. PyData Indore was a Community Partner — we helped spread the word to builders across Central India. The finale wrapped on 23 August 2026.

21–23 August 2026 36 hours AITR Campus, Indore Teams of 2–4 ₹1,03,000 prize pool
About this partnership

PyData Indore was a Community Partner for IKIGAI 2026 — not an organiser or co-host. The event was organised by the Department of CSIT & CSE(CY) at AITR, Indore, in collaboration with IIT Ropar.

Registration, screening, logistics, judging, prizes, and any fees were handled entirely by the IKIGAI 2026 team. Please direct all event questions — including results and certificates — to them via the official event site.

PyData Indore's own events remain free to attend, as always.

Join us on Meetup Official Event Site @ikigai_aitr
IKIGAI 2026 — Intelligent Knowledge Integration for Global AI Innovation. A 36-hour National Hackathon, 21–23 August 2026, organised by the Department of CSIT & CSE(CY), Acropolis Institute of Technology and Research, Indore. Official IKIGAI 2026 poster. Team and participant figures on this page follow the organisers' brochure; the poster's headline figure differs.
About the Event

What is IKIGAI 2026?

A national-level innovation hackathon that brought together India's brightest minds to build AI-powered solutions for real-world challenges. Over 36 hours, teams took an idea from problem statement to working prototype, with mentorship from academics and industry along the way.

It ran in two stages: a nationwide online registration and screening round, followed by an offline 36-hour finale on the AITR campus in Indore for the shortlisted teams, 21–23 August 2026.

▸ 36-hour National Level Hackathon
▸ Organised by Dept. of CSIT & CSE(CY), AITR Indore
▸ In collaboration with IIT Ropar
▸ 40–50 teams · 160–250 participants, nationwide
▸ ₹1,03,000 prize pool
Why We Partnered

PyData Indore exists to grow the data and Python community in Central India. IKIGAI 2026 put a national-scale AI build stage right here in Indore — so we were glad to help more local builders hear about it. Being a Community Partner meant we amplified the event; it didn't mean we ran it.

Format

A Two-Phase Journey

Designed to test ideas first, then execution and real-world impact. Both phases have now concluded.

Phase 01

Registration & Screening

Online · Nationwide

Was open to students across engineering and technology disciplines from institutions nationwide.

  • Teams registered online
  • Submitted a problem statement preference
  • Presented a proposed solution approach
  • Evaluated on innovation, feasibility and impact

Round 1 registration closed 26 July 2026

Phase 02

National Hackathon Finale

Offline · AITR Campus, Indore

Shortlisted teams competed in an intensive 36-hour innovation sprint to build and present functional solutions, 21–23 August 2026.

  • Mentorship & technical guidance
  • Infrastructure & development support
  • Networking opportunities
  • Evaluation by an expert and industry panel
High-Impact Tracks

What Teams Built

Analytics in Sports

Smart Healthcare

CPS-Powered Smart Agriculture

& many more — see the official site
Who Can Take Part

Eligibility & Teams

IKIGAI 2026 was open to UG and PG students from institutions across India. Teams were 2–4 members, and the organisers encouraged interdisciplinary teams — one team submitted one solution.

▸ Team size: 2–4 members
▸ Open to UG & PG students
▸ Interdisciplinary teams encouraged
▸ One team → one solution
▸ Nationwide participation

Final deliverables

Teams that made it through to the finale presented four things to the jury:

▸ A working prototype
▸ A solution demonstration
▸ A jury presentation
▸ An impact assessment

What it was about

In the organisers' words, IKIGAI was built around four ideas:

Innovation first
Turn creative ideas into smart solutions.
Industry connect
Interact with mentors and professionals.
AI-powered future
Leverage AI and emerging tech for a better tomorrow.
Real-world impact
Build solutions for societal and industrial challenges.

All event details on this page come from the organisers' official brochure and poster. For results, certificates or anything else about the event, check the official IKIGAI 2026 site.

That's a Wrap

IKIGAI 2026 wrapped on 23 August 2026 at AITR Campus, Indore. Congratulations to every team that built through the 36 hours — and thanks to the IKIGAI team for having PyData Indore along as a Community Partner. Join the community so you don't miss what's next.

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