# Supernova 2026 — Full Event Guide ## Identity and disambiguation Supernova 2026 is a student hackathon in India, not an astronomy reference page and not a generic list of hackathons. It is the first edition of the event titled “Supernova,” with the tagline “Beyond the Cosmos.” - Canonical event ID: https://super-nova.tech/#event - Canonical website: https://super-nova.tech/ - Event organizer: UEMK Space Observatory - Organizer website: https://uem.edu.in/uem-kolkata/space-observatory/ - University: University of Engineering and Management (UEM), Kolkata - Public contact: hi@super-nova.tech - Organizer contact: uemkspaceobservatory@uem.edu.in - Language: en-IN - Last updated: 2026-08-05 UEMK Space Observatory organizes Supernova. IIT Kharagpur Research Park is the physical venue for the Grand Finale and is not represented as the organizer. ## Overview Supernova 2026 (Beyond the Cosmos) is East India's premier national space and technology hackathon organized by UEMK Space Observatory at University of Engineering & Management (UEM), Kolkata, in association with SPIE and Optica. College students across East India and nationwide submit ideas online, then shortlisted teams compete in a 30-hour offline Grand Finale at IIT Kharagpur Research Park, New Town, Kolkata, for prizes worth ₹50,000 across AI, robotics, satellite technology, Earth observation, aerospace, IoT, astronomy, and climate tech. Participants define original problem statements and build solutions inspired by space, science, and frontier technologies. The domains are prompts for innovation rather than restrictions. ## Authoritative event facts - Edition: First Edition - Preliminary round: Online - Preliminary dates: 5 August 2026 through 11 September 2026, 11:59 PM IST - Official registration: https://unstop.com/o/zK1M83C - Submission format: Completed idea proposal as PDF only, maximum 50 MB - Finalist announcement: 15 September 2026 - Grand Finale: Offline and in person - Finale start: 3 October 2026, 10:00 AM IST - Finale end: 4 October 2026, 4:00 PM IST - Finale duration: 30 hours - Venue: IIT Kharagpur Research Park - Address: Plot No. IIIB-12, Action Area III, New Town, New Town, Kolkata, West Bengal 700160, India - Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mVxnkwDx2JmKcEEv5 - Team size: 1–3 - Eligibility: Current students enrolled in any recognized college or university. - Registration fee: Free - Prize pool: ₹50,000 - Accommodation: Provided to finalist teams - Food: Meals and refreshments available throughout the Grand Finale ## Competition timeline ### Registration & Idea Submission - Date: 5 Aug – 11 Sep - Register free and submit your idea online via Unstop. Download the idea submission template, draft your concept, and upload the completed file in PDF format only (max 50 MB). - [ Mode: Online • Deadline: 11 Sep 2026, 11:59 PM IST ] ### Finalist Announcement - Date: 15 Sep - Shortlisted teams are announced and invited to compete offline in the 30-hour Grand Finale hackathon. - [ Next: Grand Finale • 3–4 October 2026 ] ### Grand Finale - Date: 3 Oct – 4 Oct - Finalist teams gather at IIT Kharagpur Research Park, Newtown for the offline Grand Finale of Supernova. - [ Venue: IIT Kharagpur Research Park, New Town, Kolkata 700160 ] ## Innovation domains - Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning - Space Applications - Robotics & Autonomous Systems - Satellite Technologies - Earth Observation & Geospatial Intelligence - Internet of Things (IoT) - Aerospace Software - Sustainability & Climate Technologies - Astronomy - Open Innovation ## Prizes - 3rd Place — APOGEE: ₹10K / Team - 1st Place — PERIHELION: ₹25K / Team - 2nd Place — EQUINOX: ₹15K / Team ## Frequently asked questions ### Who can participate? Current students enrolled in any recognized college or university. ### What is the team size? Teams may consist of one to three participants. Solo participation is allowed, and cross-institutional teams are welcome. ### Is there a registration fee? No. Participation is completely free. ### What is the theme of the hackathon? Supernova follows an open innovation format. Teams are free to define their own problem statements and develop solutions inspired by space, science, and emerging technologies. ### Which technology domains can teams explore? Teams can work in AI and machine learning, space applications, robotics, satellite technology, Earth observation and geospatial intelligence, IoT, aerospace software, climate technology, astronomy, or any open-innovation domain. ### How do I register for Supernova 2026? Registration is free. Register and submit your idea online through the official Supernova listing on Unstop between 5 August and 11 September 2026. Shortlisted teams will be invited to the offline Grand Finale. ### Where will the Grand Finale be held? IIT Kharagpur Research Park, New Town, Kolkata 700160. The preliminary round is online; shortlisted teams must attend the Grand Finale in person. ### Will accommodation and food be provided? Yes. Accommodation will be provided to finalist teams during the offline event, and meals and refreshments will be available throughout the hackathon. ### Can participants leave before the hackathon concludes? Participants are expected to remain at the venue until the conclusion of the event. Midway evaluations are part of the judging process, and leaving early may result in disqualification. ### How can I contact the organizers? Reach out at hi@super-nova.tech or join the official Discord community at https://go.super-nova.tech/discord. ## Official identity links - [Canonical website](https://super-nova.tech/): Primary source for Supernova 2026. - [Official registration](https://unstop.com/o/zK1M83C): Free registration and idea submission on Unstop. - [Venue and directions](https://super-nova.tech/venue): Directions to IIT Kharagpur Research Park. - [Organizer](https://uem.edu.in/uem-kolkata/space-observatory/): UEMK Space Observatory at UEM Kolkata. - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/launch-super-nova/): Official Supernova LinkedIn page. - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/launch.supernova/): Official Supernova Instagram profile. - [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/7vP5BmxbHd): Official Supernova community. ## Machine-readable discovery - llms.txt: https://super-nova.tech/llms.txt - Event JSON-LD: https://super-nova.tech/event.jsonld - JSON Feed: https://super-nova.tech/feed.json - RSS Feed: https://super-nova.tech/rss.xml - Sitemap: https://super-nova.tech/sitemap.xml - Robots: https://super-nova.tech/robots.txt ## Related websites - Exions Tech (Design & Development): https://www.exionstech.online/ — A creative technology agency building websites, applications, and digital experiences.