Boeing, T-Hub launch 'HorizonX India Innovation Challenge 1.0' for startups at GES 2017

US-based aerospace giant Boeing in association with India's largest technology incubator T-Hub have launched the 'Boeing HorizonX India Innovation Challenge 1.0', to tackle complex challenges in the areas of autonomous and unmanned systems, advanced manufacturing, industrial IOT and automation, analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

The programme was launched by NITI Aayog CEO, Amitabh Kant and the IT Minister, K.T. Rama Rao in the presence of Steve Nordlund, President Boeing HorizonX Ventures. With this programme Boeing is looking to work closely with start-ups in India for engineering partnerships.

"The Boeing HorizonX India Innovation Challenge 1.0 is our attempt to channelise India's incredible talent and entrepreneurial energy for the future of innovation in aerospace and related areas," said Pratyush Kumar, president, Boeing India.

"The Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) provides a perfect backdrop for us to unleash a wave of innovation, both within and outside of Boeing," Kumar added.

Entrepreneurs will be invited to present ideas on select themes that include drones and data application, factory productivity, supply chain, aircraft maintenance and services, passenger experience, defence, commercial and industrial uses, reported ET.

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Winners of the 22-week programme will get an opportunity to engage with Boeing in future partnerships. Regional outreach events at T-Hub centres will be organised in Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai, followed by final selection in Hyderabad.

The finalists will receive funding to participate in a three-month accelerator programme at T-Hub, where they will be mentored by Start-up India.

Recently, T-Hub announced the launch of its first accelerator programme in collaboration with Microsoft to help entrepreneurs by providing new revenue channel, understanding challenges in distribution challenges and shape them.

The three months long programme will be launched in February next year. Startups across the globe can apply for the programme, however, only 10 would be selected in each batch.