The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) in collaboration with the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC), IIT Madras, the National Maritime Complex (NMC), and Chennai Port Authority (ChPA), recently launched MAR-a-THON 2025, India’s premier maritime hackathon at IIT Madras. This flagship initiative, under the Sagarmala Start-up Innovation Initiative (S2I2), is designed to foster research, innovation, start-ups, and entrepreneurship (RISE) in the maritime sector. Positioned as the curtain-raiser to India Maritime Week 2025, MAR-a-THON marks a critical step toward realizing India’s Maritime AmritKaal 2047 vision, emphasizing technology-driven growth and sustainable development of the Blue Economy.
Programme Highlights and Objectives:
MAR-a-THON 2025’s application window opens from August 25 to September 29, inviting start-ups nationwide to develop cutting-edge solutions for maritime challenges.
The three-day hackathon is slated for October 16-18 at IIT Madras, culminating in award ceremonies and partnership signings during India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai (October 27-31).
Funding support is structured progressively: proof of concept (PoC) startups can receive up to ₹10 lakh, seed funding for minimum viable products (MVP) up to ₹60 lakh, and tech pilot grants for commercial scale-up up to ₹1 crore.
The initiative aims to create a robust innovation pipeline, from ideation to market-ready solutions, strengthening India’s maritime competitiveness.
Focus Areas and Innovation Challenges:
The government has identified priority areas including digitalization, green shipping, AI-enabled logistics, renewable energy integration, coastal security, and port efficiency.
MAR-a-THON encourages cross-sector collaboration bringing policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs together to address real-world maritime problems.
A panel discussion titled “NAVIC #9 – Research, Innovation, Start-ups and Entrepreneurship (RISE)” explored pathways for innovation-led growth and regulatory facilitation.
Strategic Importance and Blue Economy Alignment:
This initiative aligns with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the long-term Maritime AmritKaal 2047 goals, which call for sustainable and technologically advanced maritime infrastructure and ecosystem.
MAR-a-THON’s emphasis on nurturing a start-up-driven ecosystem supports India’s ambition to become a global leader in maritime technology, boosting economic growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability.
The hackathon exemplifies MoPSW’s strategic focus on building resilient ports and waterways infrastructure through innovation.
Inaugural Address and Stakeholder Engagement:
Shri T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, Secretary of MoPSW, highlighted the critical link between technology and maritime growth, emphasizing the hackathon’s role as a catalyst for industry-academia collaboration and scalable innovations.
Participants and stakeholders toured the Sudha & Shankar Innovation Hub at IIT Madras, engaging with state-of-the-art technologies such as smart navigation tools, autonomous vessels, and next-generation port management systems.
Future Outlook:
MAR-a-THON 2025 is poised to attract hundreds of innovators and start-ups, creating a vibrant ecosystem around maritime technology and entrepreneurship.
Selected technologies and collaborations nurtured through the event are expected to be integrated into India’s expanding maritime infrastructure projects, enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability.
Conclusion:
The launch of MAR-a-THON 2025 at IIT Madras represents a major milestone in India’s journey toward a technologically empowered maritime future. By fostering innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in key maritime sectors, this initiative propels the country towards fulfilling its Blue Economy aspirations and Maritime AmritKaal 2047 vision, setting the stage for inclusive, sustainable, and competitive maritime growth.
Sources: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Infrastructure Today, Devdiscourse, India Shipping News,
