Hyundai CoE Mobility Innovation Ideathon 2026
By Hyundai Motor India Engineering
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Quick Answer
An ideathon for students at the 7 Hyundai CoE member universities to pitch new in-vehicle experiences for Indian customers, with a ₹10 Lakh prize pool.
- Funding amount
- ₹1 Lakhs – ₹4 Lakhs
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Hyundai Motor India Engineering
- Application deadline
- 23d — 23 Oct 2026
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
About this competition
The Hyundai CoE Mobility Innovation Ideathon 2026 is run by Hyundai Motor India Engineering Pvt. Ltd. under the Hyundai Center of Excellence (Hyundai CoE), Hyundai Motor Group's research partnership with seven Indian universities. The theme is "Enhanced In-Vehicle Experience": ideas that make time in the car more useful, enjoyable, comfortable and personal for Indian customers, in future vehicles where AI, UX, software-defined vehicles (SDV), digital content and personalization come together. Students pick one of four challenge topics — India-Smart Interaction, AI powered & Digital In-Vehicle Experience, Next-Generation In-Vehicle Interface, or Smart Value Innovation — and one of two tracks: Track A (Experience & Scenario) or Track B (Technology & Prototype). Each member university first selects up to four teams, Hyundai experts then pick seven finalists, and the finalists present in Delhi on 16 December 2026. All seven finalists win ₹1 Lakh each, and the Grand Prize team gets an extra ₹3 Lakh.
Eligibility
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Organizers
Hyundai Motor India Engineering Private Limited (HMIE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea, set up in Hyderabad in November 2006. Based in the Hi-tech City area, it is one of Hyundai Motor Company's overseas engineering and technical centres,…
Learn morePrizes & Awards
- Amount
- ₹1 Lakhs – ₹4 Lakhs
What You Get
All 7 finalist teams receive a ₹1 Lakh scholarship each — one takes the Track A Award, one the Track B Award and five the Best Innovation Award. One finalist is then picked for the Grand Prize and receives an extra ₹3 Lakh, for a total of ₹4 Lakh. The total prize pool is ₹10 Lakh.
Teams invited to the Hyundai Offline Evaluation and the Final Event get their transport paid, plus accommodation if the flight schedule needs it, for up to two students per team. Ideas are judged by Hyundai experts from product planning, vehicle development, business planning, styling and design.
Note: for the 7 finalist ideas, Hyundai gets the right to use, develop, patent and commercialize the idea under the Terms & Conditions. Non-finalist teams keep their IP.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Duration
- 3 months
- Cohort size
- 7 startups
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
- University Preliminary Round (30 October 2026): each of the 7 member universities runs its own selection (document screening, presentations, department-level selection or a campus ideathon) and sends up to 4 teams — up to 28 in total.
- Hyundai Offline Evaluation (1 December 2026, venue TBA): Hyundai experts evaluate the up to 28 teams and pick 7 finalists. Scores from the university round do not carry over.
- Final Presentation (16 December 2026, Delhi): the 7 finalists present to the final judging panel, which picks the Grand Prize winner.
Application Process
- 1
Online Application
Submit your idea and ID documents on the ideathon website by 23 October 2026.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to participate in the Ideathon?
Only students currently enrolled at one of the seven Hyundai CoE member universities: IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, VNIT Nagpur and Tezpur University. Undergraduate, Master's and PhD students from any discipline can apply, and each entrant must be at least 18 years old at registration.
What is the maximum team size?
You can apply alone or in a team of two. Both members of a two-person team must be enrolled at the same university; they can be from different departments. Each student can be in only one team.
What kind of ideas is Hyundai looking for?
Ideas that make the in-vehicle experience more useful, enjoyable, comfortable and personal for Indian customers, in future cars where AI, UX, software-defined vehicles, digital content and personalization come together. Your idea must fit one of four topics: India-Smart Interaction, AI powered & Digital In-Vehicle Experience, Next-Generation In-Vehicle Interface, or Smart Value Innovation.
What is the difference between Track A and Track B?
Track A (Experience & Scenario) is about finding a customer problem and proposing a new user experience and usage scenario, usually as a presentation. Track B (Technology & Prototype) is about the technology, system, algorithm or prototype that makes the experience possible — for example source code, a working prototype or a 3D-printed model. Both tracks are judged on the same criteria.
How are entries judged?
Customer Insight & Problem Definition (25%), Experience Innovation (35%), Feasibility & Utilization (30%), UX Quality (5%) and Storytelling & Demo (5%). Universities may adjust these for their own preliminary round.
What are the prize amounts?
The total prize pool is ₹10 Lakh. Each of the 7 finalist teams gets ₹1 Lakh (1 Track A Award, 1 Track B Award and 5 Best Innovation Awards). One finalist also wins the Grand Prize of an extra ₹3 Lakh, so that team gets ₹4 Lakh in total.
What happens to the IP of my idea?
If your idea is not a finalist, you keep the IP; Hyundai may use it only to run and promote the contest. For the 7 finalist ideas, Hyundai gets the right to use, modify, develop, file IP protection for and commercialize the idea, as set out in the Terms & Conditions.
What documents are needed to apply?
Your idea file (PDF, PPT, PPTX, JPG or PNG, up to 100 MB per application) and a copy of the College ID card and Aadhaar card of each team member. Everything must be in English, and any AI-generated or AI-assisted material must be disclosed.
Is travel covered for the evaluation and final?
Yes. Hyundai CoE pays transport for students invited to the Hyundai Offline Evaluation and the Final Event, and provides accommodation if the flight schedule needs it, for up to two students per team.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
