The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) has launched the MSME Idea Hackathon 5.0 with the aim of accelerating innovation and entrepreneurship in India’s agriculture and allied sectors. This initiative offers funding support of up to ₹15 lakh for selected ideas across multiple themes, including low-carbon technologies, cyber defense, and more.
The hackathon invites participation from a wide range of individuals—innovators, students, startups, working professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs—aged between 18 and 60 years. It seeks promising, scalable ideas that can be transformed into impactful solutions for the sector. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their entries by the last date: 14th July 2025.
Key Themes of Hackathon 5.0
Participants can submit proposals aligned with the following innovation themes:
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Low-carbon footprint solutions/technologies
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Smart and Resilient Supply Chains
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Business upliftment and sustainability in coastal and hilly areas
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Adoption of Industry 4.0 & 5.0 technologies in MSME ecosystem
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Stealth, Surveillance, and Cyber Defense Technologies
Why Choose a-IDEA, ICAR-NAARM?
To ensure targeted support and expert mentorship, applicants are advised to select “Telangana” as the state and choose “Association for Innovation Development of Entrepreneurship in Agriculture (a-IDEA), ICAR-NAARM” as their Host Institute. The a-IDEA team will provide guidance through the application, ideation, and execution phases, connecting selected innovators with industry experts and resources.
a-IDEA, the agri-business incubator at ICAR-NAARM, has a proven track record of nurturing successful startups in agri-tech, food tech, and allied domains.
How to Apply
Interested individuals can register and apply through the official MSME Hackathon portal:
https://my.msme.gov.in/inc/Hackathon_Reg.aspx
Participants should carefully fill out the application form, ensure accurate selection of host institute (a-IDEA) and state (Telangana), and submit their proposals before the deadline.
Guidelines PDF is also available for download on the portal to understand eligibility, process, and evaluation.
Support Contacts
For any questions or support during the application process, applicants can reach out to the a-IDEA team:
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Shiva Karingu – [email protected] | +91 8187015833
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Paritosh Tripathi – [email protected] | +91 7704810418
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Dr. Anusha Velamuri – [email protected] | +91 8886766623
This is a golden opportunity for innovators passionate about solving challenges in agriculture and allied sectors to secure financial support, receive expert mentorship, and become part of India’s next wave of agri-entrepreneurship.
Take your first step with a-IDEA, ICAR-NAARM and unlock the potential of your idea today!
