Code. Innovate.
Build the Future.
Microsoft provides the technology. ORION provides the vision. Participants build the future.
The premier nationwide 24-hour offline hackathon organized by Microsoft Club SIST at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai.
Challenge Arena
Choose your track to inspect architecture, evaluation benchmarks, and submission deliverables. Click any card or action button to unlock the full engineering dossier.
FLOATCHAT
Multi-Modal Semantic Query Engine & 4D Visualization for ARGO Oceanographic Data
Global ocean climate monitoring relies on thousands of autonomous robotic ARGO profiling floats drifting through ocean depths, sampling salinity, temperature, and geochemical variables from surface to 2,000m depth. FloatChat challenges builders to design an intelligent natural-language query interface and spat-temporal 4D WebGL visualization pipeline that allows marine scientists, oceanographers, and policy analysts to query, cross-correlate, and forecast marine anomalies using multi-modal LLMs.
LEXVAULT
Zero-Knowledge, Blockchain-Powered eVault for Legal & Evidentiary Chains of Custody
Legal and digital forensic evidence must endure strict cryptographic scrutiny without leaking confidential client data or violating data privacy mandates during discovery. LexVault challenges engineers to architect a decentralized, tamper-evident digital evidence depository that uses Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZK-SNARKs/STARKs) and verifiable ledger anchoring to prove forensic provenance, hash integrity, and chain of custody timelines without disclosing underlying evidentiary content.
SYLVASENSE
Automated Tree Enumeration & Aboveground Biomass Estimation from Multi-Spectral & SAR Satellite Imagery
Verifiable carbon offset verification and biodiversity preservation require high-resolution, scalable canopy density auditing. SylvaSense tasks builders with constructing an end-to-end computer vision and remote-sensing pipeline that merges optical Sentinel-2 / Landsat imagery with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Sentinel-1 and LiDAR datasets to accurately enumerate individual tree canopies, classify forest biomes, and estimate Aboveground Biomass (AGB) and carbon sequestration metrics.
Open Innovation & Student Innovation Projects
Autonomous AI Systems, Web3 Protocols, Cybersecurity & Next-Gen Hardware — Round 1 Only
Have a novel breakthrough outside the 3 flagship challenges? The Open Innovation & Student Innovation Projects track empowers engineering squads and student researchers to architect, prototype, and defend disruptive solutions across emerging fields including Generative & Agentic AI, Zero-Knowledge Web3 systems, post-quantum cybersecurity, IoT robotics, healthcare diagnostics, and space exploration. This track is welcome only for Round 1 — the Grand Finale carries no Open Innovation option, and every finalist team builds on an on-the-spot assigned problem statement instead.
₹1,00,000 Prize Pool
Honoring technical execution, architectural innovation, and software craftsmanship.
- ₹25,000 Cash Grant
- Direct Microsoft Mentor Network Access
- Grand Champion Aerospace Trophy
- Physical Certificate of Excellence
- Featured Club Showcase
- ₹15,000 Cash Grant
- Ecosystem Cloud Credits & Perks
- Runner-Up Aerospace Trophy
- Physical Certificate of Merit
- Incubation Guidance
- ₹10,000 Cash Grant
- Ecosystem Swag & Mentorship
- Aerospace Trophy
- Physical Certificate of Merit
SPECIAL TRACK REWARD BOUNTIES
Best AI Innovation
Breakthrough multi-modal, agentic or generative AI pipeline with high technical complexity.
Best UI/UX Experience
Exceptional cybernetic design, spatial clarity, accessibility and seamless user experience.
Best Hardware Prototype
Innovative IoT / embedded systems / robotics integration solving real-world physical challenges.
Best Pitch & Architecture
Crisp technical defense, bulletproof system architecture, and clear commercial feasibility.
COMPETITION BLUEPRINT
Follow the mission stages, submission formatting protocols, and rigorous judging matrix.
Round 1: Online Qualifier
Submit your problem statement choice, system architecture, and solution proposal using the standardized PPT template.
- Flat ₹100 registration fee regardless of team size (2 to 6 builders)
- Choose from 3 Flagship Problem Statements OR Open Innovation & Student Innovation Projects — welcome only for Round 1
- Expert jury screening and pan-India ranking
Round 2: 24H Offline Sprint
Only shortlisted Top 70 teams confirm slots for the 24-hour sprint at SIST Chennai. Fee covers meals, lodging, and swags.
- 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, Dinner & midnight snacks
- Free on-campus hostel accommodation for outstation teams
- Official ORION 1.0 Swag Kits, tees, stickers & badges
IMPORTANT RULES
Dear Participants, Please carefully read and follow the rules below. These apply to every registered team.
One PPT per Team
Each team is allowed to submit only one final PPT.
Multiple submissions from the same team will not be accepted. Finalise your deck internally before uploading it through the Team Portal.
Leave the Team ID Blank
The Team ID field in the PPT will be filled in by the ORION 1.0 organizing team.
Participants must leave this field blank. Do not invent, guess, or copy a Team ID into the template.
No Open Innovation in the Finale
Open Innovation and Student Innovation Projects will not be available during the final round.
Open Innovation and Student Innovation Projects are welcome only for Round 1. Every finalist team works on an assigned problem statement in the Grand Finale.
On-the-Spot Problem Statements
All shortlisted teams receive their problem statements on the spot on 9 October 2026 (tentative).
Teams must develop their solutions based on the problem statement assigned during the event.
Maximum 10% AI Usage in PPTs
Strict policy: Only a maximum of 10% AI assistance is permitted in your presentation deck.
At least 90% of your presentation deck — including solution architecture, system design, technical diagrams, workflows, and problem analysis — must be original human work developed by your team members. Generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.) may only be used minimally for light grammar touch-ups or proofreading. Automated screening and jury evaluations will scrutinize all submissions for synthetic AI content. Presentations violating this limit will face heavy score penalties or direct disqualification.
Schedule & Date Changes
All event dates, deadlines, schedules, and timings are subject to change based on organizational requirements or unforeseen circumstances.
Any revisions will be officially communicated through the designated ORION 1.0 communication channels. Participants are expected to regularly check for updates and comply with the revised schedule.
Failure to follow these rules may result in the rejection of the submission or disqualification of the team.
Event Timeline
Key milestones from online registration to the 24-hour offline grand finale at SIST Chennai.
MISSION REGISTRATIONS & ONLINE SUBMISSION
- ›Flat ₹100 registration fee per team (2–6 members)
- ›Choose from 3 Flagship Problem Statements OR Open Innovation & Student Innovation Projects (AI, Web3, Systems, Cloud, Healthcare, Hardware) — welcome only for Round 1
- ›Prepare and upload mandatory standardized PPT / PDF blueprint before September 21, 2026
ONLINE SCREENING & JURY EVALUATION
- ›Jury review across Innovation, Feasibility, Technical Depth & Impact
- ›Plagiarism, template compliance, and architectural soundness validation
- ›Shortlisting matrix computed for pan-India participants
THE CUT — TOP 70 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
- ›Official publication of Top 70 Finalist Teams
- ›Direct Discord / Email dispatch with invitation credentials
- ›Issuance of Digital Finalist Credential Badges
PHASE 2 CONFIRMATION & LOGISTICS LOCK
- ›₹250 per head finalist confirmation fee
- ›Locks in 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, Dinner, Swag Kits & Arena access
- ›Free campus hostel accommodation booking for outstation teams
24H OFFLINE GRAND FINALE
- ›24-hour continuous coding sprint in dedicated mission arena
- ›Live on-the-spot problem twists and mentor checkpoints
- ›Grand jury defense on stage & ₹1,00,000 prize distribution
Patrons & Organizers
Under the visionary patronage of Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, academic guidance, and student leadership command.
Chief Patrons
Visionary institutional leadership guiding academic excellence at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology.
Dr. Mariazeena Johnson
Dr. Marie Johnson
Ms. Maria Bernadette Tamilarasi
Mr. J. Arul Selvan
Ms. Maria Catherine Johnson
Academic Patrons
Distinguished deans and department heads steering computing innovation, curriculum, and hackathon mentorship.
Dr. L. Lakshmanan
Visionary academic leader driving cutting-edge computing initiatives and student research excellence.
Dr. P. Ajitha
Pioneering curriculum innovation across emerging computing domains and hackathon ecosystems.
Dr. Senduru Srinivasulu
Leading advanced research in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, and Robotics.
Event Organizers
Student coordinators and organizing command executing the ORION 1.0 hackathon operations.
Nihitha Juliet A
Harshini M
Praveen Kumar S
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about team eligibility, submission rules, finalist fees, and venue hospitality.
ORION 1.0 is open to all college students (undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD) and early-career working professionals across India. Cross-institutional, cross-department, and multidisciplinary teams are enthusiastically welcome!
Venue & Hospitality
Hosted at SIST Chennai with all-inclusive accommodation, meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner), high-speed connectivity, and swags for shortlisted finalists.
Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology
Jeppiaar Nagar, OMR, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600119
2 BREAKFASTS
Nutritious morning spreads to power intense ideation sprints.
2 LUNCHES & DINNER
Full multi-cuisine lunches and dinner provided inside the air-conditioned campus arena.
OFFICIAL SWAG KIT
Custom ORION 1.0 commemorative tees, mission badges, stickers and lanyard.
24/7 POWER & HIGH-SPEED WIFI
Uninterrupted power back-up, dedicated LAN/Wi-Fi mesh, and dual monitor stations.