ISMA Unveils Sugar-NXT Hackathon 2026 to Foster Technological Advancements in Sugar Sector
The Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has officially announced the launch of the 'ISMA Sugar-NXT Hackathon 2026,' a groundbreaking national initiative designed to cultivate technology-driven and scalable solutions for the sugar industry. This ambitious program aims to significantly enhance efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness while facilitating the sector's transition towards future-ready practices.
Collaborative Platform for Innovation
ISMA director general Deepak Ballani, speaking on Wednesday, emphasized that the hackathon is structured as a collaborative platform to engage students, startups, researchers, and technologists in developing industry-ready ideas, prototypes, and scalable technology solutions. The initiative will concentrate on several critical areas, including:
- Process and equipment modernization
- AI-enabled automation
- Quality enhancement
- Energy efficiency
- Bio-energy and biofuels
- Waste utilization
- Sustainable manufacturing
Structured Multi-Stage Process
The hackathon will be conducted through a meticulously organized, multi-stage process. This includes idea submission, expert evaluation, mentorship-supported prototype development, and a final demo showcase, which is scheduled for the third week of March 2026. Participants will have the opportunity to submit solutions to multiple industry problem statements, with entries anonymized to ensure a transparent and merit-based evaluation system.
Real-World Challenges and Funding Opportunities
Ballani highlighted that ISMA has curated a comprehensive set of industry-defined problem statements, enabling innovators to tackle real-world challenges with high potential for practical adoption. Shortlisted innovations will be prominently showcased at an event scheduled for April 7 to 8, 2026, with select projects eligible for seed funding support to further their development.
"We aim to create a structured platform where fresh ideas can evolve into impactful technologies," Ballani stated, underscoring the hackathon's goal of bridging the gap between innovation and industry application.
This initiative represents a significant step towards modernizing the sugar sector, leveraging technology to address pressing issues and drive sustainable growth in the industry.
