Smart Horizon: A 48-Hour International Hackathon organised by New Horizon College of Engineering (NHCE), Bengaluru, brought together students, researchers, faculty, industry mentors, and international experts to create practical solutions to real-world challenges. Organised by the AI and ML, and CSE departments, the hackathon covered AI for social good, sustainability, smart cities, healthcare, cybersecurity, agriculture, defence, space technology, automation, and FinTech. With 35 problem statements across five domains and a ₹23.75 lakh prize pool, the event promoted innovation, teamwork, entrepreneurship, and industry exposure. Smart Horizon aimed to empower students to develop responsible technologies and contribute to India’s global innovation ambitions. 

Student Experiences 

SRM Students – Amaravathi: Our experience at NHCE was excellent and very well organised. We were given a great opportunity to travel, interact, and learn through practical exposure beyond the classroom. The support provided by NHCE, including the travel allowance, made it easier for us to attend and be part of this experience. Even though we had to step out of our usual learning environment, the support and guidance from the faculty helped us manage the travel and other challenges. 

The inputs and practical knowledge we gained during the visit were extremely valuable. These are experiences and learnings that we may not get outside such programmes. Sitting in a classroom and learning only through theory is not always enough. Such opportunities help us understand things practically and make our learning more meaningful. 

Our journey from Amaravathi involved challenges such as train travel and traffic, but the overall arrangements were handled well. The station arrangements were good, and the faculty were very supportive. Despite the traffic, the faculty helped us complete the registration process smoothly. 

Overall, our experience at NHCE was highly enriching. We are grateful for the opportunity, the support provided, and the practical learning we received. It was a memorable experience that helped us learn beyond the classroom.

Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, Pune, Students – Experience at Hackathon 2026 

 My experience at NHCE was excellent and very memorable. I felt that NHCE has its own personality, reflected in the way the campus, architecture, and interiors have been designed. The campus is built in an interesting and creative way, which made the environment very welcoming. I especially liked the umbrella cafeteria and the unique landscaping, including the neem tree with a palm decor. 

The arrangements throughout the visit were very good, and we did not face any major problems. The faculty members were supportive and took good care of us throughout the programme. The arrangements at the Napping Station were also well managed. 

One of the biggest learning experiences for me was participating in my first hackathon. It gave me an opportunity to understand how teams work, how different groups collaborate, and what the industry expects from students. Having a guide assigned to our group was very helpful and gave us the right direction whenever we needed support. 

Overall, my experience at NHCE was very enriching. The campus, supportive faculty, excellent arrangements, and practical exposure through the hackathon made this a valuable experience that I will remember for a long time. 

Experience at NHCE – IIT Indore Student:

This was my first time visiting NHCE and participating in a hackathon, and the experience has been very exciting and enriching. Coming from a Mechanical Engineering background, I got an opportunity to explore coding and technology in a completely different way. The hackathon showed me how coding can be used for optimisation and how interdisciplinary work can bring different areas of knowledge together to create meaningful solutions. 

One of the biggest learnings for our team was understanding how Machine Learning can be integrated with physics. We explored how different disciplines can be connected to develop a model and eventually turn that model into a product that can be applied in an industry. 

I came here with an idea that I wanted to implement. To understand how to integrate the different concepts, I had to read and explore many research papers. That process itself was challenging but very exciting because I could see how theoretical knowledge could potentially be converted into something practical and useful. 

My first impression of NHCE and the hackathon experience has been really positive. The opportunity to work across disciplines, learn coding, explore technology, and think about real-world industrial applications has been a great learning experience. 

Overall, it has been a very exciting experience, and honestly, it is still exciting! [Laughs]