Bhubaneswar: Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University has been selected as the Central Zonal Nodal Centre for the Odisha Statewide Regional AI Hackathon 2025, providing a powerful boost to Odisha’s ambition of emerging as a global powerhouse in Artificial Intelligence.
This selection is a significant step toward accelerating AI-driven innovation across the state, setting the stage for a convergence of talent, technology, and transformative ideas. Organized under the patronage of the Odisha Society of the Americas (OSA) and Odisha AI, the hackathon is designed to ignite problem-solving and creativity among students, innovators, and young entrepreneurs, solidifying Odisha’s position on the global AI map.
As the designated nodal centre, SOA will coordinate activities and host the hackathon for the central zone, which includes the districts of Khurda, Cuttack, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, and Nayagarh. This responsibility places the university at the core of a statewide movement to mobilize emerging talent and drive impactful AI-based solutions for pressing real-world challenges.
The hackathon serves as a crucial prelude to the Odisha AI Symposium scheduled for December 18, 2025. Rooted in the principles of the Odisha AI Policy, the Odisha Vision, the India AI Mission, and global advancements in artificial intelligence, the initiative seeks to strengthen AI awareness, inspire innovation-led problem solving, and highlight cutting-edge ideas emerging from the region. Participants are encouraged to design solutions that reflect both local aspirations and international standards in AI development.
Participation is open to diploma, undergraduate, post-graduate, and Ph.D students, as well as individual innovators and both registered and unregistered startups. The deadline for idea submission is December 5, 2025, followed by the first round of online evaluation on December 7, 2025. Shortlisted teams will advance to the final hackathon scheduled for December 10, 2025, at AIC-SOA Foundation, located at the Institute of Technical Education and Research (ITER).
The top three teams from the central zone will receive attractive cash prizes: Rs. 12,000 for first place, Rs. 8,000 for second place, and Rs. 5,000 for third place. These awards are sponsored by the IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed, with additional logistic support provided by the IEEE Communication Society. Beyond the monetary rewards, winning teams will receive mentorship from an expert panel to refine their concepts for presentation at the Odisha AI Symposium, where they will also have the chance to compete for further recognition and awards.
SOA Vice Chancellor, Prof. P. K. Nanda, extended an open invitation to universities, colleges, innovators, startups, and media representatives across the central zone to participate in this significant initiative. He emphasized the necessity of cultivating a robust AI ecosystem and elevating regional innovations to global standards.
Central Zonal Nodal Coordinator Dr. Bharat Jyoti Ranjan Sahu urged aspiring participants to register and seize this opportunity to contribute to Odisha’s rapidly evolving AI landscape. Interested participants can register at: https://odishaaisummit.org/hackathon.