India’s logistics sector saw a groundbreaking convergence of technology and innovation at the Grand finale of the NLDS ULIP Logixtics Hackathon 2.0, hosted by NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDSL) in collaboration with NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission and Startup India. The event showcased the transformative potential of innovative solutions in reshaping the country’s logistics landscape.
Guest of Honour
Hon’ble Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Industry & Commerce, presented awards to the winners and delivered a keynote address. He praised the participants for their creativity and dedication, highlighting innovation as key to achieving the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.” Shri Goyal encouraged organising more hackathons to address modern logistics challenges and stressed the importance of sustainability through green practices like electric mobility and biofuels. He also advocated for skill development through collaboration between the government, private sector, and academia and underscored the role of AI, data analytics, and innovative infrastructure in boosting efficiency and competitiveness.
Hackathon 2.0 drives innovation
The NLDS ULIP Logixtics Hackathon 2.0, launched on September 24, 2024, built on the success of its first edition to address challenges in sustainability, operational efficiency, and digital transformation. The hackathon attracted over 4,700 entries, including 3,500 students, 250 start-ups, and 800 professionals nationwide. Participants used ULIP’s APIs, accessing logistics datasets from 38 systems across 11 ministries to create scalable, real-world solutions.
Shri Rajat Kumar Saini, CEO & MD, NICDC, and Chairman, NLDSL, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the extensive efforts behind the hackathon and the government’s vision to foster innovative solutions through ULIP.
Grand finale highlights logistics excellence
The hackathon’s grand finale was attended by dignitaries such as Ms. Himani Pandey, Additional Secretary, DPIIT, Shri Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce, Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Dr. Surender Ahirwar, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Shri E. Srinivas, Joint Secretory, DPIIT, Shri Santosh Sinha, CMD, Central Warehousing Corporation, Shri Banchha Nidhi Pani, CEO, GIDB, Dr. Manoj Chaudhary, Vice Chancellor, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, and Col Vinod Shivran, Indian Army. Their presence highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering innovation in India’s logistics ecosystem.
Participants competed across five key categories: sustainable logistics, data-driven optimisation of logistics operations, operational efficiency and optimisation, tech-driven logistics innovation, and unified documentation and digital transformation. These themes aligned with India’s vision of leveraging technology for a seamless and efficient supply chain. Team Vaahan Blend won the Most Innovative Solution. The category winners were Team Electra Wheeler (Sustainable Logistics), Eseal Store (Data-Driven Optimisation of Logistics Operations), CargoFL (Operational Efficiency and Optimisation), Docker Vision (Tech-Driven Logistics Innovation) and Team Vishwaas (Unified Documentation and Digital Transformation).
Esteemed Jury
The jury for the NLDS ULIP Logixtics Hackathon 2.0 included Shri Ryohei Aiba, Vice President, NEC Corporation India, Shri A M Rao, Group General Manager, Central Warehousing Corporation, Prof. Debjit Roy, Chair Professor of Operations and Data Science, IIM Ahmedabad, Shri Tapaswi PVN, Vice President, Arvind Limited, Shri Chaahat Khattar, Associate Director, KPMG India, Dr Amit Upadhyay, Assistant Professor, IIT Roorkee, and Dr. Aditya Gupta, COO, IIM Bangalore. Their expert insights were instrumental in finalising the winners.
The event showcased India’s commitment to digital transformation and innovation in logistics, paving the way for future collaborations and groundbreaking solutions in the sector.
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