Powering the Future: Bonfiglioli Hackathon




Bonfiglioli Group, in collaboration with Chennai Institute of Technology, successfully hosted its much-anticipated Hackathon—an important strategic initiative aimed at collaborating with young engineering minds and agile startup innovators. The event brought together shortlisted student innovators from various institutions and engineers from young startups across India to address real industrial challenges in sustainable motor technology and intelligent factory automation.

For Bonfiglioli, the hackathon serves as a powerful platform to understand emerging innovation trends, engage early with high-potential talent, and co-create future-ready solutions aligned with industry needs.

Following an enthusiastic response and a rigorous shortlisting process, selected student and startup teams participated in the intensive 48-hour hackathon. The event witnessed high levels of energy, collaboration, and technical depth, with participants translating ideas into tangible concepts under real-world constraints—mirroring industrial development environments.

Winners and Recognition
After careful evaluation by the jury based on innovation, technical feasibility, scalability, and potential industrial impact, the following teams were recognised for their outstanding performance:

Winner - Startup Category


Intrino Robotics Pvt Ltd – Recognised for Camera-Based AMR Navigation.

Winner - Student Category


Team Wayne Verse – Awarded for Sensor-Fusion AMR Navigation.

Runner up - Student Category 


Team Electronova – AI-Optimized FA-SynRM concept.


Team Viruksha – Resilient AGV System Architecture.

A Platform for Future-Ready Innovation
The hackathon served as a strong platform to empower start-ups and engineering and technology students by exposing them to real-world industrial challenges, expert mentoring, and Bonfiglioli’s engineering mindset. For the organization, it also provided an opportunity to observe problem-solving approaches, assess design maturity, and identify promising talent for future collaboration.

Over the course of the event, participants collaborated in teams of 3–5 members, applying creativity, engineering fundamentals, and digital tools to develop practical and scalable solutions with clear industrial relevance.

Hackathon Challenge Themes 

Topic 1: Next-Gen Electric Motor Design without Rare Earths
Participants worked on conceptualising and simulating high-efficiency electric motors (IE2, IE3, IE4–IE5) for industrial drive applications, traction systems, and wind turbines operating in the 1500–4000 rpm range.

Key focus areas included:

  • Eliminating the use of rare-earth magnets
  • Compact and scalable motor architecture
  • Superior thermal stability
  • Intelligent sensor integration for temperature, speed, and position
  • Sustainability, manufacturability, and real-world deployment

Several teams also developed functional prototypes, demonstrating improved energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact—reflecting strong alignment with Bonfiglioli’s sustainability roadmap.

Topic 2: Intelligent Software & Simulation Framework for Factory Automation
Teams designed intelligent software solutions and control algorithms for Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and industrial robots to enhance warehouse and shop-floor material handling.

The solutions focused on:

  • Real-time simulation and digital modelling
  • Path planning and adaptive control strategies
  • Smart sensor integration for autonomous navigation and collision avoidance
  • Simplified integration with ERP and WMS systems

The outcomes included simulation models and working prototypes aimed at improving operational efficiency, safety, and automation intelligence in future factories.

Mentorship, Collaboration, and Learning
Throughout the hackathon, participants were guided by mentors from Bonfiglioli Group and industry experts. These interactions enabled deeper understanding of industrial expectations, system-level thinking, and design-for-manufacturing considerations—effectively bridging the gap between academic concepts and real-world implementation.

Beyond the event, Bonfiglioli intends to further evaluate select high-potential ideas for feasibility, refinement, and possible pilot development, reinforcing its commitment to transforming innovative concepts into practical, industry-ready solutions.

The hackathon reaffirmed Bonfiglioli Group’s commitment to nurturing young talent, fostering open innovation, and advancing sustainable and intelligent technologies that will shape the future of industry.