Opportunity brief
Mandatory registrations on : techfest.org/competitions/cycloprop
About:
CycloProp is Grand Challenge of the PUSHPAK Grand Challenge 2026, a national innovation challenge under the PUSHPAK: National Mission on Drone Technology, funded by MeitY, Government of India, and hosted by IIT Bombay. Unlike a conventional hackathon or idea competition, this challenge takes promising technical concepts through evaluation, mentoring, and deployment-oriented development. Teams work with researchers, domain experts, and industry mentors to design an indigenous cycloidal rotor module for drone applications, targeting at least 10 N thrust and a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than 2.5. The goal isn't immediate prototype fabrication, but identifying strong, build-ready cyclorotor designs. Selected winning teams get invited to a post-challenge Prototype Development Support Programme to bridge the gap between innovation and real-world deployment.
Structure:
- The Grand Challenge runs about 4 months across three stages, ending with final presentations at Techfest, IIT Bombay, in December 2026.
- Eligibility: Open to academic institutions, faculty-led student teams, startups, MSMEs, and academia-startup-industry consortia with expertise in UAVs, rotorcraft, aerodynamics, robotics, controls, or mechanical design.
- Team size: Up to 5 members per team.
- Objective: Teams work on a single objective, the CAE-supported design of an indigenous cycloidal rotor module for drone applications, targeting at least 10 N thrust and a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than 2.5.
Stage 1 - Preliminary Design Submission:
- Teams get about a month to submit a preliminary cyclorotor design covering configuration, rotor sizing, blade-pitch concept, estimated thrust and weight, and a manufacturing approach. No funding at this stage; up to 15 teams qualify and receive INR 1 Lakh each.
Stage 2 - Detailed Design Development:
- Over about two months, shortlisted teams build a complete, CAE-supported design package: CAD model, kinematic and aerodynamic analysis, structural assessment, material selection, and a build-and-test plan. Up to 10 teams advance to the finale with travel and accommodation support.
Stage 3 - Grand Challenge Finale:
- Finalists present and defend their detailed design before the evaluation committee at Techfest, IIT Bombay, with a technical viva. Up to 5 winning teams are selected and considered for further funding, mentoring, and resources in the post-challenge Prototype Development Support Programme.
Timeline:
- Grand Challenge announcement & registrations open - 22nd August 2026
- Stage 1 work period - 22nd August - 27th September 2026
- Stage 1 submission deadline - On or before 27th September 2026
- Stage 1 results announcement - 2nd October 2026
- Stage 2 work period - 3rd October - 2nd December 2026
- Stage 2 submission deadline - On or before 2nd December 2026
- Stage 2 results announcement - 6th December 2026
- Grand Challenge Finale (Techfest) - 16th-18th December 2026
Rules:
- Participants must register on the official Techfest website (techfest.org > Competitions > PUSHPAK Grand Challenge) before taking part.
- All Stage 1 and Stage 2 submissions must be made via email to pushpak_gc2026@aero.iitb.ac.in; no submission links or forms are used.
- No financial support is provided at Stage 1; funding and support begin only for teams shortlisted into Stage 2 and beyond.
- The process for disbursement of prize money and support will be communicated at a later stage; teams are advised to regularly check the official website and their registered email for updates.
- The decision of the organizing team and evaluation committee shall be treated as final and binding on all.
- Travel or participation support for finalist teams is subject to approved budget norms and IIT Bombay's guidelines, to be shared at a later stage.