Microsoft India announced its support for NITI Aayog in MoveHack, a mobility hackathon inviting solutions, prototypes and ideas to address challenges faced by India in mobility and transportation.
Microsoft, as cloud partner for the hackathon, will offer Azure cloud credits of up to $25,000 to winners who build B2B solutions, in addition to $200 worth of Azure credits to every participant.
NITI Aayog said the hackathon, which was launched on 1st August 2018, has received more than 35,000 registrations so far from over 25 countries.
Additionally, Microsoft Research (MSR) India will consider incubating and offer funding and/or resource support to winners who leverage AI to build their solutions. This will be a part of a new incubation program started by MSR. Microsoft said funding will be determined individually for each project that meets the selection criteria; based on the scope of the project and associated resource requirements.
“We have tied up with Smart Cities, Central and State Ministries to implement the solutions from this hackathon, in addition to opening up our ecosystem for commercialisation of these products / prototypes,” Anna Roy, adviser, NITI Aayog, said.
Microsoft India’s Keshav Dhakad said: “Through our partnership with NITI Aayog, we aim to enable the resolution of most pressing social challenges via large scale deployment of cloud & AI led innovations.”
