The Boeing HorizonX India Innovation Challenge is now in its last stage with 13 startups entering the final round. The challenge was launched in association with T-Hub in November 2017 and saw 4500 applications being received. Of this, 80 entries were shortlisted, which is now down to the 13 finalists.

This also includes six teams from Boeing’s research and technology centre. Boeing will finally select three startups from outside and three from its in-house centre to provide support and funding.

“The selected start-ups and internal teams will now work on perfecting their ideas and concepts to develop disruptive solutions and tackle complex challenges in multiple areas of aerospace such as IoT and AI,” Boeing said in a statement.

The finalists will receive funding to participate in a three-month accelerator program at T-Hub, where they will be mentored by Startup India, Boeing subject matter experts and industry experts to shape their ideas.

The winners of the competition will receive a grant and an opportunity to engage with Boeing on future partnerships.

The Innovation Challenge is aimed at attracting the best Indian startups to propose disruptive solutions to tackle complex challenges in the areas of autonomous and unmanned systems, advanced manufacturing, industrial IOT and automation, analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

Entrepreneurs will be invited to present ideas on select themes that include drones and data application, factory productivity, supply chain, aircraft maintenance and services, passenger experience, defence, commercial and industrial uses.

“The Boeing HorizonX India Innovation Challenge 1.0 is our attempt to channelize India’s incredible talent and entrepreneurial energy for the future of innovation in aerospace and related areas. The Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) provides a perfect backdrop for us to unleash a wave of innovation, both within and outside of Boeing,” said Pratyush Kumar, president, Boeing India.