Chennai 14th October 2025: The Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS), Chennai, hosted Intellithon 2025 – AI Grand Challenge, a 24-hour national-level hackathon that brought together some of the brightest young innovators from across the country. Organized in partnership with Zoho Corporation and powered by the Catalyst by Zoho platform, the event marked a key highlight of HITS’ Ruby Jubilee celebrations.

Focused on harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to address global issues, the hackathon challenged participants to develop scalable tech-driven solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11).

More than 500 students across 100 teams, mentored by over 50 industry experts, competed for a total prize pool of ₹1 lakh, presenting ideas designed to create measurable social impact. Mentoring by 18 Zoho experts throughout the competition significantly elevated the quality of projects, providing teams with valuable insights and real-world experience.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Rajendran Dandapani, Business Solutions Evangelist, Zoho Corporation, who also served as the Chief Guest. In his keynote address, Mr. Dandapani emphasized the importance of moving beyond classroom learning and fostering innovation-driven thinking. He stated, “Students must go beyond theoretical knowledge and focus on building practical skills that solve real-world problems. They should adopt a product mindset, think like innovators, and let values guide their journey. In today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape, continuous learning and adaptability are essential to stay relevant and make a meaningful impact.”

The First Prize was awarded to Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College, while the Second Prize was jointly claimed by Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS) and Shiv Nadar University (SNU). Rajalakshmi Engineering College secured the Third Prize, impressing the jury with their innovative solutions.

Beyond the competition, Intellithon 2025 also set the stage for future collaborations in research, innovation, and sustainability between academia and industry. The event underscored HITS’ commitment to nurturing next-generation talent capable of developing AI-led solutions that address society’s most pressing challenges.