Entry Criteria



Hackfest Criteria
The Hackathon is open to participants from:
  • Undergraduate/postgraduate students from life sciences, data science, and health informatics disciplines
  • Professionals from BPOs, CROs, KPOs, Pharma, Tech/AI firms, and startups


Code of Conduct



1
Respect and Inclusivity – Treat all participants, mentors, and organizers with respect. Embrace diversity of thought, background, and experience.



2
Integrity and Originality – Submit only original work. Plagiarism, misrepresentation, or use of unauthorized content will lead to disqualification.



3
Collaboration and Fair Play – While submissions are individual, participants are encouraged to collaborate informally and support one another.



4
Active Participation – Engage actively in sessions, ask questions, and make the most of mentorship opportunities. Attendance is encouraged, and recordings will be available for flexibility.



5
Compliance with Guidelines – Follow all submission rules, deadlines, and evaluation procedures as outlined by the organizing team.




Hackathon Stages

Different Stages of the Hackathon



Registration

Idea Submission begins

Sep 8th to Oct 15th

Planning/ Launch ​ Call for Entries ​ Marketing ​

DREAM BIG. Assemble your team and propose ambitious ideas​

  • Participants invited to share creative and impactful ideas.
  • Final date to submit your ideas - Oct 15th
  • The portal will close after the submission deadline.



Ideathon

Level-Up Sessions

Sep 8th to Oct 15th

Foundational Workshops/ Prepare Participants Pre-events ​

Inspire & Guide Participants and provide mentorship

  • Sessions designed to inspire and guide participants.
  • Real-world challenges from the Life Sciences sector.
  • Mentorship from industry experts.
  • Collaborations with startups and external partners.


Ideathon

Pitch Day

Oct 21st to Oct 29th

Demonstrate the potential solutions ​

Selected Ideas will advance to the next stage - Innovation Day ​

  • Shortlisted participants pitch ideas to judges and mentors.
  • Opportunity to showcase solution potential.
  • Selected ideas progress to Innovation Day/ POC Evaluation.
  • Mentorship from industry experts.
  • Collaborations with startups and external partners.
  • Virtual & in-person formats.


Ideathon

Innovation Day/ POC Evaluation

Oct 30th to Nov 24th

Pitch Ideas ​

Shortlisted participants pitch ideas to judges and mentors / Opportunity to showcase solution potential.

  • Top participants present ideas to judges.
  • Activities include showcasing solution impact.
  • Presenting the roadmap for real-world implementation.
  • In person.


Ideathon

Recognition & Award

Dec 6th

Post-event Publication/ Showcase ​

Award & Recognition from SCDM India

  • Prizes and recognition from SCDM India and industry sponsors.
  • Shortlisted ideas could receive mentorship and potential industry collaboration.
  • Recognition through internal communications & talent spotlights.
  • In person.


Evaluation Criteria



Evaluation Criteria for the evaluators and judges
Relevance

Relevance to the Theme

Does the idea align with the themes listed? If not - is it relevant to the CDM area, or is it totally irrelevant to the SCDM forum?

Innovation

Innovation & Creativity

How original, novel, or creative is the idea? Is it already explored by the industry/vendors? Does it offer a fresh perspective or a unique approach to solving a problem?

Impact

Business Impact

What is the potential benefit, ROI and expected business impact of the idea? Does it drive measurable improvement, and create value? Will it ease the life of at-least one persona?

Presentation

Technical Merit

Is the idea executable with the technology listed? Can a POC be implemented in a timeline of 4 weeks, or more?

Feasibility

Feasibility & Implementation

Is the idea practical and implementable within the 4 weeks timeframe of the hackathon?

Scalability

Production ease

How scalable would the proposed solution be, beyond the POC; with the changing market / technological advancements? Are those considerations listed?