AetherHack

AETHERHACK – National Ideathon

INNOVISION 2026 | NIT Rourkela

Technology Beyond the Horizon:

Aetherhack is the national ideathon of INSPIRE, the Science and Research Club of NIT Rourkela, held as part of INNOVISION 2026. It gives college students across India a stage where original ideas are heard, questioned, and mentored by professors. Submit a written abstract online, and the top 10 teams move on to pitch live at the offline finale.

Themes:

• Sustainability: Clean energy, waste management, and resource-smart solutions.
• Robotics: Machines, automation, and assistive systems that solve real problems.
• Healthcare: Accessible, affordable, and assistive health-tech.
• Open Track: Any bold idea that does not fit the themes above.

Eligibility:

• Open to any college student from any institute across India.
• Registration is only through the AetherHack page on Unstop.
• Each team may submit only one idea.
• All team members must attend the offline finale and represent the team.
• Finalists must carry a valid college ID card to the finale.

Competition Structure:

Round 1 – Launch (Online, Unstop)

Teams submit one written idea abstract in PDF format. The abstract must state the theme, the problem, the proposed solution, how it works, and its expected impact, within a maximum of 2 A4 pages. Abstracts are screened on innovation, feasibility, and impact, and the top 10 teams are shortlisted and informed through Unstop and email.

Round 2 – Orbit (Offline, INNOVISION Finale)

Ten finalist teams compete at NIT Rourkela during INNOVISION, and all members of each team must be present and represent the team. Each team pitches the idea shortlisted in Round 1 for 7 minutes, followed by a 3-minute Q&A with the professor panel. Timings are strict. Slides are optional, and demos or prototypes are welcome but not required.

Sponsorship & Innovision Registration:

INSPIRE will sponsor one participant from each finalist team. All other team members must register separately on the official INNOVISION website to attend.

Judging Criteria:

• Innovation (25): Originality of the idea and approach
• Feasibility (25): Technical soundness and a realistic path to build it
• Impact (25): Relevance to the theme and value to real users
• Pitch & Q&A (25): Clarity of the pitch and quality of answers

Rules & Guidelines:

• Register only through the official AetherHack page on Unstop.
• Submit one abstract in PDF format before the deadline. Late, incomplete, or non-PDF submissions are not considered.
• The idea must be your own work. Copied or plagiarised abstracts are disqualified.
• Finalist teams must pitch the idea shortlisted in Round 1. Switching to a different idea is not allowed.
• All team members must attend the offline finale and represent the team.
• Only one participant per finalist team is sponsored by INSPIRE. Remaining members must register on the INNOVISION website.
• Report to the venue by the announced reporting time. A no-show forfeits the slot.
• Bring your slides (if any) along with a backup copy.
• Any breach of these rules can lead to disqualification at any stage.
• The decisions of the judges and the INSPIRE organising team are final.
• Registering for AetherHack means you accept the rules.

Rewards & Support:

• Prize Pool: ₹5,000, shared among all winners (the split is announced at the finale)
• 3-day INNOVISION experience for winners
• Mentorship and support from professors to develop your idea further
• Sponsorship for one participant from each finalist team, arranged by INSPIRE
• Recognition at a national-level student ideathon