SUPERNOVA: Beyond the Cosmos Welcome to the first edition of SUPERNOVA, a 30-hour national hackathon organized by the UEMK Space Observatory, dedicated to exploring the intersection of space, science, and technology. Designed for ambitious student innovators, SUPERNOVA brings together developers, engineers, designers, researchers, and problem-solvers to collaborate on bold ideas inspired by humanity's journey beyond Earth. Whether your solution addresses challenges in space exploration or applies space-inspired technologies to improve life on Earth, this is your opportunity to build something extraordinary. Join us for an immersive experience filled with innovation, collaboration, learning, and competition.
Duration: 30 hours.
Date: 3–4 October 2026.
Venue: IIT Kharagpur Research Park, Newtown, West Bengal – 743502.
Organized by: UEMK Space Observatory.
Mode: Online Preliminary Round and Offline Grand Finale. About
SUPERNOVA: Space has always inspired humanity to imagine what lies beyond the horizon. SUPERNOVA was created with the same spirit—to encourage students to challenge conventions, solve meaningful problems, and build technologies with the potential to shape the future. This is an open innovation hackathon where participants are free to define their own problem statements and develop impactful solutions. While the event is centered around space and scientific innovation, projects may span a wide range of disciplines that contribute to the future of technology. Over 30 hours, participants will collaborate, prototype, and present their ideas before a distinguished panel of judges.
What to Expect: 30 hours of uninterrupted innovation. Open innovation inspired by space and emerging technologies. Exciting prizes for outstanding projects. Exclusive participant swag kits. Networking opportunities with fellow innovators and invited experts. Meals and refreshments throughout the event. A collaborative environment designed to encourage creativity and technical excellence.
Innovation Domains: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. Space Applications. Robotics & Autonomous Systems. Satellite Technologies. Earth Observation & Geospatial Intelligence. Internet of Things (IoT). Aerospace Software. Sustainability & Climate Technologies. Astronomy. Open Innovation. These domains are intended to inspire participants rather than restrict them. Teams are encouraged to think creatively and define meaningful problems worth solving.
Begins: 1 August 2026. Teams will submit their ideas online. Selected teams will advance to the Grand Finale.
Venue
IIT Kharagpur Research Park, Newtown, West Bengal 700160
Kolkata, India
Dates: 3–4 October 2026.
Venue: IIT Kharagpur Research Park, Newtown. Finalist teams will compete in a 30-hour hackathon, building and presenting their solutions before the judging panel.
Prizes: Outstanding projects demonstrating innovation, technical excellence, and real-world impact will be recognized with exciting prizes. Prize details will be announced soon.
Eligibility: Open to current students enrolled in any recognized college or university. Students from all academic disciplines are welcome.
Minimum: 1 participant.
Maximum: 3 participants. Cross-institutional teams are permitted. Solo participation is welcome.
Registration Fee: Participation is completely free.
Accommodation & Food: Accommodation will be provided to finalist teams during the offline event. Meals and refreshments will be available throughout the hackathon.
Additional Information: Current students from any recognized college or university are eligible to participate. Teams may consist of 1–3 participants. Cross-institutional teams are permitted. Solo participation is welcome. Participation is completely free. SUPERNOVA follows an open innovation format. Teams are free to define their own problem statements and develop solutions inspired by space, science, and emerging technologies. The Grand Finale will be held at IIT Kharagpur Research Park, Newtown, West Bengal. The preliminary round will be conducted online. Shortlisted teams must attend the Grand Finale in person. Accommodation will be provided to finalist teams. Meals and refreshments will be provided throughout the event. Participants are expected to remain at the venue until the event concludes. Midway evaluations are part of the judging process, and leaving early may result in disqualification. Further details, including the official Discord community and contact information, will be announced soon.