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CfA: Himalayan Startup Trek Grand Challenge 2023 by IIT Mandi [Prize Money Upto Rs. 6 Lakhs]: Apply by Sept 5

Apoorva

Aug 22, 2023
4 min read

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Online applications are invited for the Himalayan Startup Trek Grand Challenge 2023 by IIT Mandi. The last date to apply is September 5, 2023.

About IIT Mandi

The Indian Institute of Technology Mandi is one of the eighth newer second-generation IITs. IIT Mandi is a research university now located in Kathmandu Valley, Mandi city in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh.

IIT Mandi’s campus (about 14 km from Mandi) is on the left bank of the Uhl River at Kamand and Salgi villages. There is great variation in the climatic conditions of Himachal due to extreme variations in elevation. The climate varies from hot and sub-humid tropical in the southern tracts to cold, alpine and glacial in the northern and eastern mountain ranges with more elevation.

About #HST Challenge 2023

Like last year, this year too HST will feature the ‘HST Grand Challenge’ – a startup pitch competition in three thematic areas. The grand challenge is focused on identifying and catalysing ideas and innovations that will amplify startups’ efforts and impact.

Themes

Human Computer Interaction
Build For Himalayas
Environment & Sustainability

Human Computer Interaction

The new age alliance through Human-computer interaction (HCI) is all about enhancing humans’ cognitive and decision-making capacity through the use of technology without disrupting the natural order of events. This challenge aims to promote the use of intelligent interfaces and technologies in daily order of routine as well as in the complex business and social decision-making processes.

The multidisciplinary field of HCI focuses on the design of computer technology and, in particular, the interaction between humans (the users) and computers. While initially concerned with computers, HCI has since expanded to cover almost all forms of information technology design. The focus of HCI is to use computer’s intelligence and computation capabilities in decision making, prediction, estimation, communication, and processing.

Build For Himalayas

The Foothill Innovators Challenge – Build for Himalayas
This thematic area is for innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs that have the intent and the passion to build technology-based solutions for solving the social, economic, and ecological problems facing Himalayan regions of the world. The problems should sharply focus on addressing the issues relevant to the local terrain, population, environment, ecology, or focus on taking local products and offerings to the world by building supply chains, storages, or build capacity at different value chain levels. Further solutions focusing on rural development issues such as education and literacy, skilling, local e-marketplaces, will fit into this thematic area.

Environment & Sustainability

The Habitable World Challenge – Environment and Sustainability
The past few decades have witnessed a devastating effect on the environment because of human intervention in nature’s life cycle. Our world’s natural resources are constantly depleting, and there’s a dire need to preserve these resources. This theme of HST Grant Challenge aims to enable startups and innovators who strive to make the world more livable and habitable place for all species. The specific problem statements of interest under this theme include clean & renewable energy, waste management, e-vehicles, green solutions, recycling, natural resource management. However, the innovators and startups that are building solutions aligning with the UN-Sustainable Development Goals are welcome to apply under this challenge.

Thematic Areas

This thematic area is for innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs that have the intent and the passion to build technology-based solutions for solving the social, economic, and ecological problems facing Himalayan regions of the world. The problems should sharply focus on addressing the issues relevant to the local terrain, population, environment, ecology, or focus on taking local products and offerings to the world by building supply chains, storages, or build capacity at different value chain levels. Further solutions focusing on rural development issues such as education and literacy, skilling, local e-marketplaces, will fit into this thematic area. The sub-themes include:

The problem statements in this area are devised in close communication with the state’s Industries Department, HP Center for Entrepreneurship Development, Department of IT, and Labor Commissioner Office-HP.

Problem Statements in Build for Himalayas thematic area

Hill road safety, disaster prevention, and management Demand and supply-side challenges to Himalayan agriculture Vocal for local – interventions to scale local products and services Rural development – education, skill training, and employment Patient-oriented hospital management information system, digitization of patient health records and prescriptions, and data-based analytics for decision making.
Route tracking of popular high-elevation trekking routes Location tracking of trekkers in areas with and without internet network SoS system for trekkers to call help in areas without internet network
Integration of intra-departmental and inter-departmental data to take data-based decisions
Low-cost technology solutions for displaying, managing, and monitoring vehicle inflow, time-keeping and payment at parking areas Solutions for managing the state’s blue collared human resources including factory commissioning, labour law compliance, labor hiring and training.
Solutions for efficient record keeping and employment matchmaking for human resource Technology on drones for use cases in the Himalayas – essentials delivery, difficult terrain mapping and discovery, use cases in high altitude agriculture (sprays, irrigation, etc).
Drone-based solutions for monitoring, mapping, and reporting of deforestation, and solutions for reforestation Solutions to promote vernacular housing, sustainable living, and green practices at individual and organizational levels