By Hasnain Mustafa
Lucknow. A good idea is more than just a thought—it can become the beginning of real change. With this spirit, 173 ideas from young innovators were evaluated at Integral University, of which 40 were shortlisted for the next stage. The selected ideas, subject to further approval, may receive financial support of up to ₹15 lakh, along with mentorship and incubation support to help turn promising concepts into practical solutions and ventures.
The Idea Showcasing and Screening under MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0 was organised from 18 to 24 August 2026 in the Board Room on the second floor of the Administrative Building at Integral University, Lucknow. Students and emerging innovators presented technology-driven ideas and solutions to real-world problems before a panel of experts.
The initiative has been launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in line with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’. It aims to encourage innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship, particularly in areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, Industry 4.0 and 5.0, robotics and automation, automotive technology, and other emerging and frontier technologies.
173 Ideas Undergo Detailed Screening
Integral University served as an approved Host Institution for the initiative, organised in collaboration with the Office of the Development Commissioner (MSME).
The screening process focused on the novelty, technical potential, feasibility and possible impact of the ideas. A multidisciplinary panel comprising 5 external industry experts, 1 financial expert from academia, 9 technical experts from academia and 8 theme experts from academia took part in the evaluation.
Following the detailed assessment, 40 ideas were shortlisted and forwarded to the next stage.
Up to ₹15 Lakh Financial Support
One of the major attractions of the hackathon is the opportunity for approved ideas to receive financial assistance of up to ₹15 lakh per selected idea. Participants may also receive mentorship and incubation support, helping them develop their concepts into prototypes, products or potential startups.
The initiative therefore provides young innovators with more than an opportunity to showcase their ideas—it creates a pathway for promising concepts to move towards real-world implementation.
ISF-CIED Plays Key Role
The Integral Startups Foundation–Centre for Incubation and Entrepreneurship Development (ISF-CIED) played an important role in coordinating the participants, facilitating the screening process and ensuring the smooth conduct of the programme.
The initiative was organised under the guidance of Dr. Nida Fatima, Additional Pro Chancellor, Integral University and Executive Director, Integral Startups Foundation. Her leadership and support contributed significantly to the successful execution of the programme.
Dr. Noor Alam Khan, Incubation Manager, ISF-CIED and Associate Professor, Integral Business School, along with the dedicated ISF-CIED team, played a key role in coordination, evaluation and the overall execution of the screening process.
Expert Feedback to Strengthen Ideas
The programme also gave students and emerging innovators an opportunity to interact directly with experts and receive valuable feedback on their concepts. The discussions helped participants understand the technical requirements, practical challenges and possible future direction of their projects.
The successful conduct of MSME Idea Hackathon 6.0 has further strengthened the innovation, startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem at Integral University. It has also encouraged young minds to look beyond ideas on paper and work towards developing practical solutions, products and enterprises.
With 40 ideas advancing from a pool of 173, the next challenge is to transform these promising concepts into solutions that can make a meaningful impact.
The message is clear: when innovation gets the right platform, an idea can take its first step towards becoming an enterprise.
