MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0
Under MSME Idea Hackathon by Ministry of MSME
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Quick Answer
National MSME innovation hackathon on frontier tech — renewable energy, Industry 4.0/5.0, robotics, automotive & more. Up to ₹15 lakh + incubation per approved idea. Open to Indian citizens 18+; apply 27 Jun–14 Jul 2026.
- Funding amount
- Up to ₹15 Lakhs
- Funding type
- Grant
- Provider
- Ministry of MSME
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Eligible stage
- Idea
- Location
- Open to startups registered in India
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 21 July 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Ministry of MSME. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this grant
MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0 — "Frontier Technology in MSMEs: One Pillar, Six Themes" is the latest edition of the Ministry of MSME's flagship innovation hackathon, run under the Incubation Component of the MSME Innovative Scheme.
Aligned with the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision of a Viksit Bharat @2047, this edition opens its doors to a broad spectrum of participants — welcoming all Indian citizens aged 18 and above — to harness the country's collective ingenuity, address pressing national challenges and build a future-ready MSME ecosystem.
Selected ideas receive funding support of up to ₹15 lakh per approved idea, channelled through approved Host Institutes (HIs) spread across the country, along with incubation and mentoring support to convert the idea into a working prototype.
One Pillar, Six Themes
The single pillar is Frontier Technology in MSMEs, spanning six themes:
- Renewable Energy — generation, storage, management and productive use of renewable energy: solar, wind, biomass, biogas, green hydrogen, hybrid systems, battery storage, second-life batteries, renewable-powered machinery and decentralised energy (e.g. solar dryers, cold storage, pumps, process-heating, monitoring tools).
- Energy Efficiency — affordable solutions that cut energy consumption, cost and process losses in MSME units: energy-monitoring devices, efficient motors and drives, compressed-air leak detection, waste-heat recovery, efficient boilers/furnaces, better refrigeration, process optimisation and power-quality improvement, ideally retrofittable with measurable savings.
- Automotive Technology — automotive manufacturing, electric mobility and mobility-support: indigenous components, e-motors and controllers, battery- and thermal-management, charging/battery-swapping, vehicle electronics, sensors, lightweight materials, safety and alternative-fuel systems, diagnostics, remanufacturing and end-of-life vehicle recovery.
- Industry 4.0 and 5.0 — connected, intelligent, human-centric manufacturing using IoT, digital twins, AI, machine vision, cyber-physical systems and smart monitoring: affordable sensors, machine-retrofitting, predictive maintenance, digital work instructions and traceability that modernise operations without replacing existing machinery.
- Robotics and Automation — affordable, adaptable automation built for MSME scale: pick-and-place, machine-tending, automated inspection, robotic welding/finishing, material handling, autonomous factory vehicles, computer-vision automation, modular controllers, adaptive grippers and retrofit kits — easy to install, safe and simple to program.
- Other Frontier Technologies — emerging, high-growth sectors not covered above: advanced materials, drones, space technology, defence and dual-use tech, medical devices and electronics, with a focus on indigenous components, import substitution, commercialisation and exports.
Innovation mandate
Every idea should embed innovation across dimensions such as marketing & branding, ideation, technology, co-creation, social innovation, entrepreneurship, open innovation and business-model innovation.
For implementation, the Host Institutions approved for the scheme are supported by the Office of DC-MSME.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) is the central government ministry responsible for formulating policies and programmes for the MSME sector in India. It administers several schemes aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, livelihood creation, and enterprise…
Learn moreAIC-ADT Baramati Foundation is an Atal Incubation Centre for agriculture and allied startups, on the Agriculture Development Trust campus at Sharadanagar, Baramati, in Pune district, Maharashtra. Its own pages say the centre was set up with the support of Atal Innovation…
Learn moreAIC-Pinnacle Entrepreneurship Forum is an Atal Incubation Centre in Pune, registered as a Section 8 not-for-profit company and hosted by Pinnacle Industries Ltd., an automotive interiors, seating, EV components and speciality vehicles manufacturer. It says it is supported by the…
Learn moreHost Institutes · 827
View allAIC-ADT Baramati Foundation
Baramati · Maharashtra · India
AIC-Pinnacle Entrepreneurship Forum
Pune · Maharashtra · India
KLE CTIE (KLE Technological University)
Hubballi · Karnataka · India
+824 more Host Institutes across India can incubate this program.
Benefits & Funding
- Amount
- Up to ₹15 Lakhs
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Funding of up to ₹15 lakh per approved idea, disbursed through an approved Host Institute (HI) acting as a Business Incubator, along with incubation support as per the MSME Innovative Scheme (Incubation Component) — workspace, mentoring and guidance on design, strategy and execution to nurture and develop the idea into a working prototype.
Applicants choose their preferred Host Institute at submission based on the mentors and institutional capabilities available, so the support is tailored to developing the specific idea. Funding is granted only to ideas finally approved by the Project Monitoring & Advisory Committee (PMAC) after a multi-stage evaluation.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Ideas go through four stages of rigorous evaluation:
Stage 1 — Host Institute (HI): Each HI builds a pool of experts (entrepreneur, technical, financial and thematic) and constitutes a panel of 3–5 experts per theme to evaluate ideas, then forwards shortlisted ideas on the portal as per Ministry guidelines.
Stage 2 — Ministry of MSME: Documents submitted with the shortlisted ideas are screened; only ideas with complete and valid documents are processed (incomplete or incoherent submissions are liable for rejection), then forwarded to the Domain Expert Selection Committees.
Stage 3 — Domain Expert Selection Committee (DESC): Thematic DESCs of experts from Industry, Academia and Government evaluate and recommend ideas with a score, per criteria decided by the Ministry.
Stage 4 — Project Monitoring & Advisory Committee (PMAC): PMAC is the final authority to approve ideas and grant financial assistance per scheme guidelines; it may reject any idea without assigning a reason.
Application Process
- 1
Register & apply
Register on innovative.msme.gov.in (27 Jun–14 Jul 2026) and fill the application form.
You - 2
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How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
See the questions before you start
Download every question this programme's application form asks, so you can prepare your answers offline before opening the portal.
- 3
Line up your documents
Keep every document from the checklist ready in one folder. Missing docs are the #1 reason applications get bounced.
- 4
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 5
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0?
It is the Ministry of MSME's flagship innovation hackathon (run under the Incubation Component of the MSME Innovative Scheme), themed 'Frontier Technology in MSMEs — One Pillar, Six Themes'. Approved ideas get up to ₹15 lakh plus incubation support through an approved Host Institute to build a working prototype.
Who can apply?
All Indian citizens aged 18 and above with a valid email and mobile number. You apply under one of three categories: MSME (with a Udyam Registration number), Student (with a Student Identity Card valid for FY 2026-27), or Others.
How much funding do approved ideas get?
Up to a maximum of ₹15 lakh per approved idea, disbursed through the approved Host Institute, along with incubation and mentoring support to develop the idea into a prototype.
When and where do I apply?
Apply online at https://innovative.msme.gov.in between 27 June and 14 July 2026.
What are the six themes?
Renewable Energy; Energy Efficiency; Automotive Technology; Industry 4.0 and 5.0; Robotics and Automation; and Other Frontier Technologies (advanced materials, drones, space, defence/dual-use, medical devices, electronics, etc.).
Can I change my Host Institute or apply to more than one?
No. Once an idea is submitted, the Host Institute, category and other details cannot be changed at any stage. The same or a substantially similar idea must be submitted only once and to only one HI — duplicates are disqualified. Consult your chosen HI before submitting.
What documents do I need?
A Government-issued photo ID (preferably Aadhaar) as age proof; a Udyam Registration number (MSME category) or a Student Identity Card valid for FY 2026-27 (Student category); and an anonymised Block Diagram and Concept Note that do not reveal the incubatee/MSME's identity.
How are ideas evaluated?
Through four stages: (1) Host Institute expert panels, (2) Ministry of MSME document screening, (3) thematic Domain Expert Selection Committees (DESCs) who score and recommend, and (4) final approval by the Project Monitoring & Advisory Committee (PMAC).
What should my idea aim for?
The idea must be strictly intended for developing a working prototype, model, proof-of-concept or product. It should be novel, scalable, and ideally reduce cost, improve quality of life or support clean and green energy.
I'm a student — what's expected of me?
Student applicants must commit to continuing and completing development of the idea even after their academic programme ends. If you don't intend to carry the work forward post-completion, you're advised not to apply.
What will get me disqualified?
Submitting false information, misconduct or canvassing; duplicate/multiple submissions; ideas that infringe novelty/originality or go against established scientific norms; or revealing identity in the block diagram/concept note. The incubatee and mentor cannot be the same person, and neither can sit on any evaluation committee.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
News
- Ministry of MSME Invites Applications for MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0andamanchronicle.net · 2 months ago
Source: Google News aggregated
