IIT Kanpur Inaugurates Grand Finale of Global Security Hackathon 2025

The Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Hub (C3iHub) at IIT Kanpur officially launched the Grand Finale of the HACK IITK Global Security Hackathon 2025 on February 16, 2025. The three-day event, set to conclude on February 18, brought together some of the brightest minds in cybersecurity to showcase their skills and present innovative solutions to tackle the challenges facing the digital world.

The inauguration of the event was marked by the presence of Dr. Gulshan Rai, former National Cybersecurity Coordinator and Director General of CERT-In, who attended as the chief guest. He was joined by Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur, Prof. Sandeep Shukla, Project Director of C3iHub, and Dr. Tanima Hajra, COO and Interim CEO of C3iHub. Their participation played a crucial role in setting a positive tone for the event’s success.

During his address, Dr. Rai emphasized the rapidly evolving nature of cybersecurity, highlighting that the space was becoming increasingly complex, with new challenges emerging daily. He pointed out that the hackathon’s themes, including Web3 Security, IT Security, and Cyber Crime, were especially relevant in the current digital age. Prof. Agrawal also noted the vital role of hackathons in fostering technical expertise, particularly in a field as critical as cybersecurity, and how such events offer young talent an opportunity to contribute meaningfully.

The hackathon has garnered strong support from a range of prestigious partners, including Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), Saptang Labs, SecureDApp, State Bank of India (SBI), and Amazon Web Services (AWS), with Hack2Skill and Prutor serving as platform partners. These partnerships have been instrumental in ensuring that the hackathon offers not only a competitive experience but also essential resources and industry mentorship.

With over 7,000 registrations in the Solution Track and 35 innovative startup ideas in the Startup Track, HACK IITK has become a key event in the global cybersecurity landscape. Offering more than ₹30 lakhs in prizes, the event is designed to tackle issues such as IT Security, Web3 Security, and Cyber Crime while providing a platform for emerging startups to showcase groundbreaking ideas in areas like AI/ML Security and Automotive Security.

As the competition nears its conclusion, 201 participants from 54 teams in the Solution Track and 11 shortlisted startups in the Startup Track are vying for the top positions. This year’s hackathon is a true testament to the caliber of ideas and innovation in cybersecurity.

In parallel with the hackathon, C3iHub announced the call for applications for the second cohort of its Cyber Security Accelerator Program (CSAP), under the CPS-DIAL initiative by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The program aims to support emerging cybersecurity startups by offering funding of up to INR 2 Crore, expert mentorship, and access to IIT Kanpur’s innovation ecosystem. This initiative follows the success of the first cohort and aims to foster startups working in areas such as Web3 Security, Mobile Forensics, and Adversary AI Threat Detection.

Through initiatives like the hackathon and the CSAP, C3iHub continues to play a key role in advancing cybersecurity innovation and supporting entrepreneurs in India, reinforcing its position as a vital hub for cybersecurity development.