Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT), Nagpur, organized the Hyundai Centre of Excellence (HCoE) Mobility Innovation Ideathon 2026 on October 29, 2026. The event gave students of VNIT, a platform to showcase innovative ideas and develop solutions for future mobility challenges. Established in 2025, Hyundai CoE serves as Hyundai Motor Group’s collaborative research platform with leading academic institutions in India. The network includes IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) Nagpur and Tezpur university. Through research collaborations and academic partnerships, Hyundai CoE aims to enhance India-localized mobility R&D capabilities while supporting the growth of the country’s innovation ecosystem.
The Ideathon initiatives will bring together students, professors and researchers from the seven member universities of Hyundai CoE, creating a platform for innovation, knowledge exchange and talent development in future mobility technologies.
The Ideathon was themed “Enhanced In-Vehicle Experience”, with four sub-themes:
- India-Smart Interaction
- AI-Powered & Digital In-Vehicle Experience
- Next-Generation In-Vehicle Interface
- Smart Value Innovation
The Mobility Innovation Ideathon is part of the activities under the MoU signed between VNIT Nagpur and Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea, under the Hyundai Centre of Excellence (HCoE). Hyundai Motor Company selected VNIT Nagpur from among all NITs for an HCoE on “Battery Technology and Transportation for Future Mobility.” Faculty members and Hyundai researchers will exchange insights on batteries, electrification and future mobility technologies through a dedicated research forum.
The event was organized under the leadership of Director Prof. Prem Lal Patel, Deputy Director Prof. B. R. Sankapal, Dean (R&C) Prof. Y. B. Katpatal, Associate Dean (IPR & Innovation) Prof. R. B. Keskar, and Prof. Pradyumn Chaturvedi, Institute Coordinator, Hyundai Centre of Excellence @ VNIT Nagpur. Representatives of Hyundai Motor Company took part in and supported the event, including Mr. Siyun Kim, Head of Hyundai CoE, Ms. Linda Lee and Mr. Woojae Lee.
Prof. Pradyumn Chaturvedi, Institute Coordinator and Main Lead of Hyundai Centre of Excellence @ VNIT Nagpur said that the Ideathon drew 21 team registrations, of which 8 teams presented their ideas to a five-member expert panel. The panel evaluated the presentations and offered valuable feedback and suggestions. The esteemed jury members are Dr. Abhay Gandhi, Dr. Vishrut Landge, Dr. Ashwin Dhoble, Dr. Ganesh Patil and Dr. Jawahar Bhukya. The organizing committee of Ideathon-2026 comprised Dr. Mohd Alam, Dr. Udit Jain, Dr. Ankit Bhurane and Dr. Arpita Saha.
The four preliminary winners teams selected from this Ideathon will undergo an offline semi-final evaluation by Hyundai Motor Group judges on December 1st, 2026 at Delhi. Total 28 teams from seven HCoE member universities will compete in semifinals. Selected 7 finalist teams will present their ideas during the final round scheduled on December 16th, 2026 at Delhi, where Hyundai Motor Group jury will select the grand prize winner. The Group plans to award approximately INR 10 lakh in prize money across the seven finalist teams.
The initiative reflects VNIT Nagpur’s commitment to fostering innovation, industry-academia collaboration and entrepreneurship among students, and to encouraging practical solutions for the future of mobility.