Read the guidelines below, then submit your entry through the application form.
The Grand Prize-winning team will receive a total scholarship of 4 Lakh: 1 Lakh as a Finalist scholarship plus an additional 3 Lakh for the Grand Prize.
Select one among the four Challenge Topics when you apply.
Select one among the two Tracks when you apply.
These Terms and Conditions and Consent Form ("Terms") govern participation in the HYUNDAI CoE Mobility Innovation Ideathon 2026 ("Contest"), organized by Hyundai Motor India Engineering Pvt. Ltd. ("Organizer" or "HMIE"). By registering for, submitting an entry to, or participating in the Contest, each participant and team member ("Entrant") confirms that they have read, understood, and provided their consent to agree to be bound by these Terms.
The Contest is open to students enrolled at Hyundai CoE member institutions. Each Entrant must be at least 18 years of age at the time of registration. Entrants may participate individually or in teams of up to a maximum of two members. The Organizer reserves the right to verify eligibility and disqualify any Entrant or team that does not satisfy the eligibility requirements or adopt any practices to match the eligibility requirements.
The Contest is scheduled to commence on September 7, 2026. Event schedule like Submission deadlines, institution-level selection, semi-final rounds, final presentations, and award ceremony details will be announced separately by the Organizer or the relevant Hyundai CoE member institution. Unless otherwise notified, the final presentation and award ceremony are expected to take place on December 3, 2026. Entries received after the applicable submission deadline may not be considered.
All information, concepts, materials, sketches, designs, presentations, prototypes, mock-ups, data, or other materials submitted by an Entrant in connection with the Contest shall be referred to as the "Submission" or "Entry." Each Submission must be the Entrant's original work and must not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights, privacy rights, publicity rights, confidentiality obligations, contractual obligations, or other legal rights. If AI-generated or AI-assisted materials are used, such use must be clearly disclosed in the Submission.
Submissions must not include unlawful, inappropriate, obscene, hateful, discriminatory, defamatory, unsafe, or offensive content; unauthorized third-party brands, trademarks, logos, copyrighted materials, confidential information, or personally identifiable information; or any content that is contrary to the spirit or purpose of the Contest. The Organizer may remove, reject, or disqualify any Submission or Entrant that violates these Terms or the submission instructions.
Valid Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges selected by the Organizer. Judging criteria may include, but are not limited to, clarity of the user problem, relevance to mobility needs in India, creativity, innovation, feasibility, customer value, presentation quality, and alignment with the Contest theme. The decisions of the Organizer and judges shall be final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest.
6.1 Non-Winning Entries. Entrants shall retain ownership of intellectual property rights in Entries that are not selected as winning Entries. The Organizer and Hyundai affiliates shall not acquire ownership of intellectual property rights of non-winning Entries. However, the Organizer may use non-winning Entries for Contest operation, registration confirmation, eligibility review, judging, evaluation, mentoring, internal reporting, record keeping, result announcement, and Contest-related promotional purposes on a non-exclusive and royalty-free basis.
6.2 Winning Entries. For the purposes of these Terms, "Winning Entries" means the Entries selected as the final 1st to 5th place winners. By accepting any prize or benefit, the winning Entrants hereby give their voluntary consent and agree that the Organizer or any Hyundai affiliate designated by the Organizer is authorized to use, modify, develop, reflect, file for intellectual property protection, commercialize, display, reproduce, distribute, and otherwise analyze, exploit and adopt the ideas, concepts, scenarios, designs, materials, or solutions included in the Winning Entries for business, product, service, research and development, promotional, exhibition, intellectual property, or commercialization purposes.
Winning Entrants hereby give their voluntary consent and agree to execute any additional documents reasonably requested by the Organizer for assignment, transfer, confirmation, waiver, or licensing of intellectual property rights in the Winning Entries to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Organizer is not obligated and shall have discretion to use, develop, commercialize, or adopt any Winning Entry.
6.3 Similar Ideas. Entrants acknowledge that other Entrants, the Organizer, Hyundai affiliates, or third parties may have developed, may be developing, or may in the future develop ideas, concepts, products, services, technologies, or designs that are similar or identical to an Entry. Except where the Organizer uses a non-winning Entry beyond the limited purposes stated in these Terms without separate written consent, Entrants shall not be entitled to any claim, compensation, or right solely on the basis of such similarity.
6.4 Moral Rights and Hyundai Intellectual Property. To the extent permitted by applicable law, winning Entrants agree not to assert moral rights or similar rights in connection with the permitted use of Winning Entries. Entrants shall not use the name, logo, trademark, service mark, design, image, or other intellectual property of Hyundai, the Organizer, or any Hyundai affiliate without the Organizer's prior written consent.
Each Entrant represents and warrants that they have full authority to participate in the Contest and submit the Entry; the Entry is original and does not infringe any third-party rights; the Entry does not include unauthorized names, likenesses, confidential information, or protected materials of third parties; and the Entrant has the right to grant the rights and consents described in these Terms. Entrants shall be responsible to cooperate to protect the Organizer and Hyundai affiliates from claims, damages, costs, or liabilities arising from any breach of these representations and warranties and shall keep the Organizer and Hyundai Affiliates Indemnified against such claims, damages, cost or liabilities.
The expected prizes and benefits are as follows:
By participating in the Contest, Entrants consent, unless prohibited by law, to the use of their name, college or institute name, team name, photograph, video, likeness, statements, presentation materials, and submitted ideas for Contest-related publicity, media coverage, reporting, record keeping, internal communication, and promotional purposes without additional compensation.
The Organizer may collect and use Entrants' personal data, including name, college or institute, department, contact information, photographs or videos, travel information, and where necessary identification information, for Contest operation, eligibility verification, communication, judging, award administration, travel coordination, reporting, publicity, legal compliance, and record keeping. The Organizer shall process personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including, where applicable, the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 of India.
Entrants shall keep confidential all non-public information, technical information, business information, facility information, documents, materials, data, and other information disclosed by or accessed from the Organizer or Hyundai affiliates during or in connection with the Contest. Entrants shall not disclose, share, copy, distribute, or use such confidential information for any purpose other than participation in the Contest. A breach of confidentiality may result in disqualification and may subject the Entrant to legal action.
The Organizer shall not be responsible for lost, late, incomplete, misdirected, damaged, inaccessible, or failed Submissions. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Organizer shall not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, claim, cost, or liability arising from participation in the Contest, any Submission, judging result, travel, event attendance, or acceptance or use of any prize or benefit. The Organizer may disqualify any Entrant or Entry that violates these Terms, submission instructions, applicable laws, or the spirit of the Contest.
Entrants agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Organizer, Hyundai affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents, partners, agencies, successors, and assigns from and against any claims, damages, costs, expenses, or liabilities arising out of or relating to an Entrant's breach of these Terms, infringement of third-party rights, false statement, confidentiality breach, misconduct, or unlawful activity in connection with the Contest.
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with the Contest shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of New Delhi, India.
By participating in the Contest, Entrants release and hold harmless the Organizer, Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor India Engineering Pvt. Ltd., Hyundai Motor India Limited, their affiliates, partners, agencies, officers, directors, employees, representatives, agents, successors, and assigns from any and all liability, claims, losses, damages, costs, or expenses arising out of or in connection with preparation for, travel to, participation in, submission to, selection or non-selection in, attendance at, or any other activity related to the Contest, including claims based on publicity rights, privacy, intellectual property rights, confidentiality, technical errors, cancellation, delay, prize acceptance, or prize use or misuse.
The Organizer may cancel, suspend, modify, or terminate the Contest, in whole or in part, if fraud, technical failure, force majeure, legal restriction, safety concern, administrative difficulty, insufficient participation, or any other factor impairs the integrity or proper operation of the Contest. Nothing in these Terms shall be construed as creating any employment, internship, agency, partnership, joint venture, trust, fiduciary, or other contractual relationship beyond participation in the Contest. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.