Tata Technologies Limited, a leading global product engineering and digital services company, has announced the winners of InnoVent 2026, its flagship engineering innovation hackathon, marking a major milestone in its continued engagement with India’s engineering talent ecosystem. The announcement, disclosed to the National Stock Exchange of India Limited and BSE Limited on 23 January 2026, highlights Tata Technologies’ focus on Smart Mobility innovation and future-ready engineering capabilities.

The Tata Technologies InnoVent 2026 News has drawn widespread attention across the technology, automotive, and manufacturing sectors, as the initiative showcased the scale, diversity, and depth of engineering innovation emerging from Indian campuses. Conducted with support from Amazon Web Services, InnoVent 2026 reinforced Tata Technologies’ mission of engineering solutions that combine intelligence, sustainability, and human purpose.

Vision and Theme of InnoVent 2026

Launched in June 2025, InnoVent 2026 invited engineering students from across the country to design solutions aligned with the theme “Innovating the Future of Smart Mobility Powered by Intelligence, Engineered for 2030.” The hackathon challenged participants to address real-world problems in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, focusing on safety, efficiency, accessibility, sustainability, and next-generation mobility systems.

This initiative continues to strengthen Tata Technologies’ collaboration with academic institutions, enabling young engineers to develop practical skills, industry exposure, and future-oriented thinking. The programme aligns closely with the company’s broader commitment to engineering better careers while contributing to the evolution of mobility solutions globally.

Nationwide Participation and Scale

InnoVent 2026 witnessed an overwhelming response from engineering colleges across India, underlining the growing interest in innovation-led learning. According to Tata Technologies Limited latest News, the hackathon recorded participation from 10,247 students, representing 404 colleges across 28 states.

A total of 2,822 unique projects were submitted, reflecting diverse perspectives on smart mobility challenges. Notably, 39 percent participation by women highlighted the increasing inclusivity and diversity within India’s engineering innovation ecosystem.

The scale and reach of InnoVent 2026 have positioned it as one of the most impactful student-led innovation platforms in the country, reinforcing Tata Technologies’ leadership in nurturing future engineering talent.

Extensive Mentorship and Innovation Support

To support participants in transforming ideas into deployable solutions, Tata Technologies delivered over 650 hours of innovation training and mentoring. This effort was led by the company’s Business Excellence team and Subject Matter Experts, who guided students through ideation, validation, prototyping, and real-world application readiness.

This structured mentoring approach ensured that projects developed during InnoVent 2026 were not just conceptual but aligned with practical industry needs. Such initiatives underscore the company’s focus on bridging the gap between academic learning and industry expectations.

Demo Day at Pune Campus

The innovation journey culminated in a high-energy Demo Day hosted at Tata Technologies’ Hinjewadi campus in Pune. The event brought together students, industry leaders, and senior executives to witness the final project demonstrations by the top ten teams.

An eminent industry jury evaluated the showcased prototypes, comprising:

• Warren Harris, CEO and Managing Director, Tata Technologies

• Lalitha Indrakanti, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover – Technology and Business Services India

• S K Dash, Chief Technical Officer, Air India

• Marc Wille, CEO, ES-Tec Group

• S Sukanya, Chief Operating Officer, Tata Technologies

The presence of senior leaders from diverse sectors added significant credibility and provided participants with valuable exposure to real-world evaluation standards.

Announcement of Winners and Awards

After a detailed assessment, the jury announced the winners of InnoVent 2026, recognising innovation, feasibility, and impact.

The First Prize of ₹3,00,000 was awarded to Team Drushti from CMR College of Engineering & Technology, Hyderabad, for their project on Intelligent Customization of Vehicle Infotainment Systems for Visually Impaired Drivers based on Medical Conditions.

The Second Prize of ₹1,00,000 went to Team The T-Factor from Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai, for their solution titled Avoiding Breakdowns Through Automatic Self-Prevention Using Edge-based AI.

The Third Prize of ₹50,000 was secured by Team SwarmSync from the International Institute of Information Technology (I²IT), Pune, for Intelligent Fleet Operations Management using V2X Communication.

These winning projects showcased innovation across accessibility, preventive maintenance, and intelligent fleet management, reflecting the evolving priorities of the smart mobility ecosystem.

Career Opportunities for Finalists

Beyond cash prizes, Tata Technologies extended career opportunities to all 42 finalists who participated in the Demo Day. This initiative provides a direct pathway for young innovators to continue their journey within the organisation, reinforcing Tata Technologies’ belief in nurturing talent from idea to impact.

Additionally, all participants received one-year access to the iGETIT learning platform, enabling them to deepen their skills in emerging technologies such as AI, connected systems, and digital engineering.

Diversity of Innovation Across Top Projects

The Top News Headlines in Technology Sector India highlighted the wide spectrum of innovation showcased at InnoVent 2026. The top ten finalist projects spanned critical areas such as vehicle safety, energy efficiency, cybersecurity, battery technology, connected mobility, and next-generation EV systems.

This diversity illustrates how young engineers are addressing complex challenges through interdisciplinary approaches, combining software, hardware, AI, and systems engineering.

Role of the Humanoid Robot

A standout feature of InnoVent 2026 was the presence of a first-of-its-kind humanoid robot co-host, which played multiple roles throughout the Demo Day. The robot welcomed dignitaries, coordinated panel discussions, engaged with students, performed celebratory routines, and demonstrated advanced conversational abilities.

The humanoid robot symbolised the convergence of AI, robotics, and human creativity, reinforcing Tata Technologies’ vision of future-ready engineering and the evolving nature of work and learning.

Leadership Perspective on Innovation

Commenting on the event, Warren Harris, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Technologies, emphasised that InnoVent represents the company’s conviction that the future belongs to those who combine engineering excellence with human purpose to engineer a better world.

This philosophy aligns with Tata Technologies’ long-standing mission of enabling safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products across industries.

Broader Impact and Conclusion

The Tata Technologies Smart Mobility Hackathon has emerged as a powerful platform for identifying, nurturing, and integrating next-generation engineering talent. By offering mentorship, exposure, and career opportunities, the initiative strengthens India’s innovation ecosystem while addressing real-world industry challenges.

The announcement of InnoVent 2026 winners reflects Tata Technologies’ continued commitment to shaping the future of mobility through collaboration, intelligence-driven solutions, and inclusive innovation. As smart mobility evolves globally, initiatives like InnoVent will play a crucial role in preparing engineers to design solutions that are not only technologically advanced but also socially impactful.

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