Kernel Prime'26

KERNEL PRIME’26 — THE CORE OF INNOVATION

About the Hackathon

KERNEL PRIME’26 — The Core of Innovation is a 24-hour offline hackathon organized by the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering & Electronics Engineering (VLSI Design & Technology), S.A. Engineering College, Chennai-77.

The hackathon brings together engineering students to transform ideas into practical solutions through innovation, technical skills, problem-solving and teamwork.

Date: October 8 & 9, 2026
Duration: 24 Hours
Team Size: 2–4 Members
Tracks: Hardware & Software
Prize Pool: ₹50,000
Mode: Offline / On-Campus

Eligibility

• Open to engineering students from colleges/institutions.
• Each team must have 2–4 members.
• Inter-college teams are not allowed; all members must belong to the same institution.
• Inter-department / inter-specialization teams within the same institution are allowed.
• Each participant can register with only one team.

Tracks

Hardware Track: Electronics, embedded systems, IoT, automation, robotics and related technologies. Hardware Problem Statements will be released one day before the hackathon. Participants must bring their own required components and equipment.

Software Track: Software development, web/mobile applications, AI/ML, automation, cybersecurity and related technologies.

Only one track can be selected per team. Projects must be relevant to the selected track. Opposite-track projects will not be considered.

Open Innovation — Initial Screening

Teams must submit an Open Innovation Project Proposal consisting of:

• Project Title
• Brief Project Description
• Selected Track
• Open Innovation PPT (maximum 6 slides)

The proposal will be used for the initial screening and shortlisting of teams. Submission does not guarantee selection.

Registration Fee

Initial registration is free.

A ₹1,000 registration fee per team will be applicable only to shortlisted teams after selection and confirmation of participation in the offline hackathon.

Hackathon Format

• The hackathon will be conducted for 24 hours.
• Selected teams will work on the designated Problem Statement for their chosen track.
• The event will include three evaluation stages.
• Teams will be evaluated on problem understanding, innovation, technical implementation, functionality, feasibility, presentation and overall impact.
• Teams must complete and demonstrate their solution within the allotted time.

Rules

1. Each team must have 2–4 members.
2. All members must belong to the same college/institution.
3. Inter-college teams are not permitted.
4. Inter-department / inter-specialization teams are allowed within the same institution.
5. Each participant can register with only one team.
6. Each team can select only one track.
7. Teams must complete their solution within the 24-hour duration.
8. Teams must present and demonstrate their solution during the evaluation rounds.
9. Plagiarism, copying, cheating, impersonation or submission of another team's work will result in disqualification.
10. Hardware Track participants are responsible for bringing and safely handling their own components and equipment.
11. Participants must follow the instructions and regulations of the organizing committee and S.A. Engineering College.
12. The decision of the judging panel and organizing committee will be final.

Selection Process

Online Registration → Open Innovation Proposal Submission → Initial Screening → Shortlisting → Participation Confirmation & ₹1,000 Fee → Offline 24-Hour Hackathon

Only shortlisted and confirmed teams will be eligible to participate in the offline hackathon.

Think. Build. Innovate. Be the Core.

KERNEL PRIME’26 — THE CORE OF INNOVATION

Fest Events:

• 24-Hour Hackathon
• Hardware Hackathon
• Software Hackathon
• Open Innovation Challenge
• Problem Statement Challenge
• Project Development & Prototyping
• Technical Evaluation Rounds
• Final Project Presentation & Demo
• Prize Distribution

Registration Deadline: 25th September 2026

Initial registration is free.
Registration Fee: ₹1,000 per team
The registration fee is applicable only to shortlisted teams upon confirmation of participation in the offline hackathon.

Poonamallee-Avadi Road, Thiruverkadu, Chennai - 600 077. Tamilnadu. INDIA.