Pune: Tata Technologies, a global product engineering and digital services company, has announced the winners of InnoVent 2026, the third edition of its flagship engineering innovation hackathon, focused on advancing Smart Mobility solutions for the future.
Supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS), InnoVent 2026 concluded with a Demo Day at Tata Technologies’ Hinjewadi campus in Pune, where top student teams showcased industry-ready innovations addressing real-world challenges in the automotive and manufacturing sectors.
Launched in June 2025, InnoVent 2026 invited engineering students from across India to develop solutions under the theme “Innovating the Future of Smart Mobility Powered by Intelligence, Engineered for 2030.”
The initiative reinforces Tata Technologies’ ongoing engagement with academia by enabling students to build future-ready engineering skills while working on practical, technology-driven use cases.
Also Read: MSDE Signs MoU with World Economic Forum to Roll Out Skills Accelerator in India
InnoVent 2026 Sees Nationwide Participation and Strong Campus Engagement
InnoVent 2026 witnessed widespread participation from engineering institutions across the country, engaging 10,247 students from 404 colleges across 28 states.
The program resulted in 2,822 unique project submissions, with 39% participation from women, reflecting growing diversity in engineering innovation.
To support participants, Tata Technologies delivered over 650 hours of structured innovation training and mentoring, led by its Business Excellence team and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
This support helped student teams convert ideas into robust prototypes suitable for real-world applications.
Commenting on the initiative, Warren Harris, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Technologies, said that InnoVent reflects the company’s belief that the future is shaped by those who combine engineering excellence with human purpose to engineer a better world.
Jury Evaluation and Winners of InnoVent 2026
The InnoVent 2026 innovation journey culminated in a Demo Day where the top 10 finalist teams presented their solutions to an eminent jury comprising senior industry leaders:
- Warren Harris, CEO & MD, Tata Technologies
- Lalitha Indrakanti, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover – Technology and Business Services India (JLR-TBSI)
- S K Dash, Chief Technical Officer, Air India
- Marc Wille, CEO, ES-Tec Group
- S Sukanya, Chief Operating Officer, Tata Technologies
Following a detailed evaluation, the jury announced the winners of InnoVent 2026:
- First Prize – ₹3,00,000
- Team Drushti
- Intelligent Customization of Vehicle Infotainment System for Visually Impaired Drivers Based on Medical Conditions
- CMR College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad
- Second Prize – ₹1,00,000
- Team The T-Factor
- Avoiding Breakdowns Through Automatic Self-Prevention Using Edge-based AI
- Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai
- Third Prize – ₹50,000
- Team SwarmSync
- Intelligent Fleet Operations Management Using V2X Communication
- International Institute of Information Technology (I²IT), Pune
The top three teams collectively received ₹4.5 lakh in cash prizes.
Also Read: Wadia College of Engineering and FireBirdVR Launch Advanced XR Lab
Career Opportunities and Learning Access for Finalists
Beyond awards, InnoVent 2026 extended career opportunities to all 42 finalists, enabling them to continue their innovation journey within Tata Technologies.
Additionally, all participants received one-year access to the iGETIT learning platform, allowing them to further strengthen their capabilities in emerging technologies.
Top 10 Finalist Projects at InnoVent 2026
The top 10 projects showcased at InnoVent 2026 addressed a wide range of themes including safety, cybersecurity, energy efficiency, accessibility, fleet optimisation, and next-generation EV systems.
These included innovations in V2X communication, blockchain-based vehicle security, wireless EV charging, intelligent battery monitoring, hybrid vehicle development, and AI-led fault detection systems.
Humanoid Robot Co-Host Enhances Demo Day Experience
A first-of-its-kind humanoid robot co-host played a central role throughout the InnoVent 2026 Demo Day.
The robot welcomed dignitaries, coordinated panel discussions, interacted with participants, performed celebratory routines, and demonstrated advanced conversational and social capabilities.
Its presence symbolised the convergence of AI, robotics, and human creativity at the core of future-ready engineering.
The event also featured a panel discussion with industry leaders, exploring innovation trends, the global demand for engineering talent, and the impact of emerging technologies on the future of mobility, offering students valuable industry perspectives.
