A national-level hackathon, “CemHack for Green Infra,” was launched on May 20, 2025, at the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) in Ballabgarh. The event was inaugurated by Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The hackathon aims to promote innovation in the cement and construction sectors, with a focus on sustainability and green infrastructure.
The NCB Incubation Centre (NCB-IC) has organized the hackathon, which will provide a platform for startups, professionals, individuals, students, and academia to showcase their innovative ideas and solutions for the cement sector. The competition has two tracks, one for startups and professionals, and the other for students and academia. The themes for the hackathon include green cement, green process, green concrete, carbon capture and storage, logistics and supply chain, and achieving net-zero targets.
The winners of the hackathon will receive cash rewards of up to ₹1 lakh and incubation or mentoring opportunities at NCB-IC. Registrations for the hackathon are open from May 20 to July 20, 2025, and participation is free of cost. The event has garnered interest from research scholars, students, industry leaders, and NCB scientists, and is expected to result in promising startup success stories.
The Director General of NCB, Dr. L P Singh, emphasized the importance of the hackathon in driving sustainability and highlighted recent milestones, including a DST-funded CCU test bed project with IIT Roorkee and JK Cement Ltd. He also announced the upcoming establishment of a Centre of Excellence for CCU at NCB. The event was attended by prominent figures, including the Director of IIT Roorkee, Prof. K K Pant, and the Chairman of NCB and MD of Shree Cement Ltd., Shri Neeraj Akhoury.
The hackathon is a significant initiative in promoting innovation and sustainability in the cement and construction sectors, and is expected to have a positive impact on the industry. With its focus on green infrastructure and sustainable solutions, the hackathon is in line with the government’s goals of reducing carbon emissions and promoting environmentally friendly practices. The event is a great opportunity for participants to showcase their innovative ideas and solutions, and to contribute to the development of a more sustainable and environmentally friendly cement and construction industry.