Singapore, 13 July 2026 –– Singapore Management University (SMU) today announced that applications for the fourth edition of the Singapore–India Hackathon [新印编程马拉松比赛] will open on 15 July, and is inviting students from Singapore’s universities and polytechnics to apply for the opportunity to represent the country in one of the region’s leading student innovation competitions.
Hosted by SMU’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) and The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE) Singapore in collaboration with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the Singapore–India Hackathon will take place in Singapore from 15 to 17 November 2026.
The hackathon will bring together about 120 students from Singapore and India and placed into 20 mixed-country teams to develop solutions for real-world problem statements set by industry partners. With the theme "Build a Better Future", the event aims to inspire tertiary students to tackle priority challenges faced by both nations – and turn their bold ideas into real impact. Powered by a suite of AI tools, teams will tackle innovation challenges across four key sectors: fintech and insurtech, sustainability and climate, emerging technologies, as well as social innovation and inclusive development.
First proposed in 2018 to then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong by Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi when he was on a visit to Singapore, the Singapore–India Hackathon is a bilateral platform designed to deepen collaboration between the academic, innovation and start-up ecosystems of both countries. The 2026 edition was officially launched in November 2025 by global tech icon Narayana Murthy at a thought leadership forum held at SMU.
“The Singapore–India Hackathon reflects the best of what our two countries can achieve together. As we mark 61 years of bilateral ties, we are bringing together Singapore’s market connectivity, India’s engineering depth, and the ambition of student innovators from both nations to solve real-world challenges. Through SMU’s global network, we aim to help these teams turn their ideas into ventures, partnerships and impact,” says Mr Hau Koh Foo, Director of SMU’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship [新加坡管理大学创新与创业研究院主任欧阳可赋].
“Singapore and India have had excellent trade relations over the last few decades and the spirit of entrepreneurship is what defines that partnership. The Singapore-India Hackathon will further strengthen this partnership by building meaningful connections between student teams, laying the foundation for future collaborations in AI, deep tech and quantum computing in the decades ahead,” said Mr Prantik Mazumdar, President, TiE Singapore.
Participants will take part in workshops and mentorship sessions, compete for S$88,000 in cash prizes and gain access to post-hackathon opportunities, including industry engagement, mentorship, potential internship and funding pathways with problem statement sponsors and incubation support through SMU IIE's Business Innovations Generator (BIG), which was awarded the ‘Best Accelerator/Incubator Programme’ at the Global Startup Awards in May 2026.
The Hackathon is hosted in consultation with the Singapore Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Education of the Government of India, and the High Commission of India in Singapore. Hosted alternately in Singapore and India, previous editions have been held at Nanyang Technological University, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in Chennai and the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
The Singapore-India Hackathon offers aspiring founders a chance to build connections with the vibrant startup ecosystems of both countries and to explore the potential for future cross-border ventures. It has served as a launchpad for innovators. Singapore-based biotech startup Anomaly Bio and enterprise AI startup Pints AI went on to raise funding after participating in the 2023 edition.
Application details
The Singapore application window will run from 15 July to 15 August.
Interested students may apply via the following:
- Students based in India can write to AICTE at startupfellow6 [at] aicte-india.org
- Students based in Singapore can reach out to SMU IIE here: https://iie.smu.edu.sg/singapore-india-hackathon-2026
Photos (courtesy SMU) available here.