A 24-hour state-level Hackathon - Parivarthan 2026 – began on Friday at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering (VVCE) here.Centred on the theme “Solve – Serve – Sustain,” the event aims to promote innovation focused on sustainability and real-world problem solving.The hackathon witnessed enthusiastic participation from across Karnataka, with 225 students forming 56 interdisciplinary teams. Parivarthan is serving as a platform for young innovators to address pressing societal and environmental challenges, the college said.Delivering the keynote address, Prajwal M., Founder and CEO of Oscillo Machines Pvt. Ltd., shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey and underscored the importance of blending emerging technologies with traditional agricultural practices. Encouraging participants to innovate with purpose, he urged them to develop solutions that are practical, scalable, and socially impactful, he added.Sadashive Gowda B., Principal, VVCE, emphasised the institution’s commitment to experiential learning and problem-driven innovation.P. Vishwanath, Secretary, Vidyavardhaka Sangha, who presided over the event, reaffirmed the Sangha’s dedication to creating platforms that nurture creativity and real-world engineering solutions.Dr. K. B. Vinay, Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Convenor of Parivarthan 2026, along with faculty members were present. The hackathon features challenges drawn from lakes, farms, industries, artisan clusters, and decentralised networks. The themes include Environment, Waste and Sustainability; Livestock, Poultry and Agri-Tech Systems; and Traditional and Decentralised Economic Systems. All participants will receive five AICTE activity points, the release said. Published - February 27, 2026 07:55 pm IST