DoT Launches 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025 to Boost Next-Gen Solutions
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025, a six-month initiative designed to accelerate the development of cutting-edge 5G-powered solutions. Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students, startups, and professionals, the program offers mentorship, funding, and access to over 100 5G Use Case Labs to transform ideas into scalable innovations.
Focus Areas & Support for Participants
The hackathon invites proposals in key 5G application domains, including AI-driven network management, IoT-enabled solutions, smart healthcare, agriculture, industrial automation, non-terrestrial networks (NTN), direct-to-mobile (D2M) broadcasting, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, and quantum networking. Participants will utilize advanced 5G features like network slicing, Quality of Service (QoS), and enhanced call-flow scenarios to address real-world challenges.
To support commercialization, the hackathon provides Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) assistance, enabling participants to protect and monetize their innovations.
Program Structure
The hackathon unfolds in multiple phases:
- Proposal Submission (March 15 – April 15, 2025): Participants submit project ideas outlining problem statements, solutions, and expected impact. Each institution can recommend up to five proposals, which will be reviewed by regional committees.
- Regional Shortlisting: Around 150–200 promising projects will be selected and refined with expert guidance.
- Pragati Phase (June 15 – September 15, 2025): The top 25–50 teams will receive ₹1,00,000 each in seed funding to develop their prototypes. They will also gain access to 5G Use Case Labs, mentorship, and infrastructure for testing and refinement.
- Evaluation & Showcase (September 2025): Teams will present their prototypes to the Technical Expert Evaluation Committee (TEEC), which includes government officials, industry leaders, and academic experts. Evaluation will be based on four key parameters: Technical Execution (40%), Scalability & Market Readiness (40%), Societal & Industrial Impact (10%), and Novelty (10%).
- Winner Announcement (October 1, 2025): Finalists will showcase their innovations at India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, India’s premier tech event.
Awards & Recognition
Top performers will receive cash prizes:
- 1st place: ₹5,00,000
- Runner-up: ₹3,00,000
- 2nd Runner-up: ₹1,50,000
- Best Idea & Most Innovative Prototype: ₹50,000 each
Additionally, 10 labs will receive Certificates of Appreciation for Best 5G Use Cases, with a special award for the Best Idea from an Emerging Institute.
Driving India’s 5G Innovation
With a ₹1.5 crore budget, the hackathon aims to develop over 50 scalable prototypes, generate 25+ patents, and strengthen academia-industry-government collaboration. Regular bi-weekly progress reports and a centralized tracking dashboard will ensure milestone achievements.
The 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025 is a significant step toward advancing India’s leadership in 5G research, development, and commercialization, paving the way for a smarter, more connected future.
Source: PIB
