Opportunity brief
About the Opportunity:
PowerAI Hackathon 2026: Karnataka's Largest Undergraduate AI Hackathon for the Power Sector
India is building the world's next-generation energy ecosystem and the next breakthrough could come from your campus.
PowerAI Hackathon 2026 is a first-of-its-kind statewide innovation challenge that brings together the brightest undergraduate engineering minds across Karnataka to solve real-world problems in the power and energy sector using Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Digital Twins, Computer Vision, IoT, and Intelligent Automation.
Sponsored by the Central Power Research Institute (CPRI), Ministry of Power, Govt. of India in collaboration with Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) Bengaluru, this hackathon is more than a coding competition it's an opportunity to contribute to technologies that can shape India's energy future. VED (VLSI & EMBEDDED DESIGN CLUB) and IEEE MITB Student Branch are the student organizing committees.
Over two transformative stages, participants will move beyond classroom projects and work on industry-grade problem statements inspired by challenges in power generation, transmission, distribution, grid intelligence, renewable integration, predictive maintenance, asset monitoring, and smart infrastructure.
Why This Hackathon Matters:
- Solve authentic problem statements curated by CPRI scientists and domain experts.
- Build AI-powered solutions with real-world engineering impact.
- Learn from researchers, faculty mentors, and industry professionals working at the forefront of India's power ecosystem.
- Present your innovation before a distinguished panel from CPRI, MAHE, MIT Bengaluru, and industry.
- Exceptional teams may receive opportunities for further technical mentorship, validation, and exploration of deployment pathways with CPRI experts.
Hackathon Journey:
Stage 1 - Online Screening Round
Teams will participate in an online assessment evaluating their foundational knowledge in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, programming, and engineering problem-solving.
Stage 2 - Grand Finale at MIT Bengaluru
Shortlisted teams will develop their solutions and compete in the 24-hour offline finale at Manipal Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, on 10-11 October 2026, where they will showcase working prototypes and AI models addressing critical power-sector challenges.
Who Can Participate?
The hackathon is open to undergraduate engineering students from colleges across Karnataka. Teams are encouraged to bring together diverse technical skills spanning AI/ML, Embedded Systems, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Data Science, Software Development, Robotics, and allied engineering disciplines.
Build What Powers Tomorrow
This is your chance to innovate where Artificial Intelligence meets critical infrastructure. If you've ever wanted to build technology that can make power systems smarter, safer, greener, and more resilient, PowerAI Hackathon 2026 is where your journey begins.
Code for impact. Innovate for India. Power the Future.