Kanpur, February 16, 2025: C3iHub, the Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Hub at IIT Kanpur, officially inaugurated the Grand Finale of the HACK IITK Global Security Hackathon 2025. The three-day event, which began on February 16, will conclude with a valedictory session on February 18 at IIT Kanpur. Bringing together some of the brightest minds in cybersecurity, the hackathon offers a platform for showcasing cutting-edge skills and innovative solutions to tackle the most pressing security challenges of the digital age.

The event was honored by the presence of Dr. Gulshan Rai, former National Cybersecurity Coordinator and former 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 was pivotal in setting the tone for the event’s success.

Dr. Gulshan Rai emphasized the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, stating, “There is a paradigm shift in cybersecurity as new challenges emerge every day. The entire cybersecurity space is becoming more complex than ever, making the themes of this hackathon—Web3 Security, IT Security, and Cyber Crime—highly relevant.” His remarks highlighted the growing importance of cybersecurity in an increasingly digital world and set the stage for the event's discussions and innovations.

Prof. Manindra Agrawal also highlighted the significance of hackathons in the context of skill development, noting, “Hackathons play a crucial role in developing technical expertise, and young talent can contribute significantly to the field of cybersecurity.” His remarks resonated with the participants, reinforcing the hackathon’s role as an essential platform for nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.

HACK IITK 2025 is backed by an impressive line-up of partners, including Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), Saptang Labs, SecureDApp, State Bank of India (SBI), and Amazon Web Services (AWS) as the Cloud Partner, alongside Hack2Skill and Prutor as Platform Partners. These partnerships ensure that the hackathon offers a world-class competitive experience along with essential resources, mentorship, and industry expertise.

With over 7,000 registrations in the Solution Track and 35 startup ideas in the Startup Track, HACK IITK has quickly become a key event in the global cybersecurity space. The competition offers over ₹30 lakhs in prizes, including ₹5 lakhs in cash and AWS Cloud Credits for the winners. The Solution Track welcomes students to address cybersecurity challenges such as IT Security, Cyber Crime, and Web3 Security, while the Startup Track enables emerging startups to present solutions in areas like AI/ML Security, Automotive Security, and Privileged Access Management (PAM).

As the competition enters its final stages, 201 participants from 54 teams have qualified for the finals in the Solution Track, while 11 startups have been shortlisted in the Startup Track. Their participation reflects the high level of innovation and talent showcased at the event.

Alongside the hackathon, C3iHub also announced the call for applications for the second cohort of the Cyber Security Accelerator Program (CSAP) under the CPS-DIAL initiative by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The program will support promising cybersecurity startups with funding of up to INR 2 Crore, expert mentorship, and access to IIT Kanpur’s innovation ecosystem. Over a 9-month period, selected startups will receive strategic guidance to accelerate their growth.

The program focuses on emerging cybersecurity domains such as Web3 Security, Privacy Enhancing Technologies, Mobile Security and Mobile Forensics, Supply Chain Security, Threat Intelligence, Automotive Security, Adversary AI Threat Detection & Security of AI, and LLM Security.

C3iHub’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting cybersecurity entrepreneurs highlights the growing importance of such initiatives in the digital era. As the hackathon and CSAP continue to empower participants and startups, C3iHub stands as a major hub for cybersecurity innovation and entrepreneurship in India.

About C3iHub, IIT Kanpur

C3iHub is a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) established at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems. C3iHub works on securing cyber-physical systems by identifying vulnerabilities, developing security tools, supporting startups, collaborating with industries for commercialization, and training the next generation of cybersecurity researchers.

About IIT Kanpur:

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Known for excellence in science and engineering education, IIT Kanpur has made major contributions to research and development. Its 1,050-acre campus houses 19 departments, 26 centers, three interdisciplinary programs, and two specialized schools across engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines. With more than 590 faculty members and over 9,500 students, IIT Kanpur continues to lead in innovation and academic excellence.

For more information, visit www.iitk.ac.in.