CuraQuest – Research Ideathon

CuraQuest is a 12-hour research-focused ideathon where innovation meets curiosity. Instead of focusing only on coding, this event challenges teams to think like research groups, identify real-world problems, and design impactful solutions backed by research.

Teams will investigate complex problems, conduct rapid research, and present structured research proposals along with an initial prototype or concept model.

This event emphasizes ideas, innovation, and problem-solving, rather than just building finished software.

Who Can Participate

  • Students currently enrolled at National Institute of Technology, Warangal

  • Teams consisting of 2–4 members

Event Highlights

  • 12-hour ideathon focused on research and innovation

  • Organized by the R&D Club, NIT Warangal

  • Conducted in collaboration with HackerRank

  • Participants will work in teams as mini research groups

  • Focus on problem identification, research depth, and solution design

Participant Benefits

  • Participation Certificate from HackerRank

  • HackerRank subscription for winning teams

Event Goal

The goal of CuraQuest is to simulate a real-world research workflow.

Participants will:

  • Identify a real-world R&D challenge

  • Conduct a focused literature review and research analysis

  • Design a proposed solution or methodology

  • Present findings through a research report and presentation

Evaluation Criteria

Judges will evaluate teams based on:

  • Originality of the idea

  • Depth of research

  • Feasibility of the solution

  • Team collaboration

  • Presentation quality

  • Potential real-world impact

Event Schedule (12-Hour Plan) Kickoff & Problem Selection

The event begins with an opening session introducing the rules, judging criteria, and submission guidelines.

Teams will finalize their research problem, either from their own ideas or from a curated list of problem statements.

Research Sprint

Teams start gathering information, performing literature reviews, and defining the scope of their research problem.

Lunch Break

A short break for participants to recharge before continuing their work.

Midpoint Check-in & Peer Feedback

Each team will present a 5–7 minute progress update to judges and peers.

This stage includes:

  • Early feedback from judges

  • Critical questions to strengthen the research direction

  • Suggestions to refine the solution approach

Final Development & Drafting

Teams will finalize:

  • Research paper or report

  • Presentation slides

  • References and supporting materials

Final Presentations & Q&A

Each team delivers an 8–10 minute presentation, followed by a Q&A session.

Judges will evaluate:

  • Research authenticity

  • Clarity of the proposed approach

  • Feasibility of the solution

  • Potential impact

Results & Closing Ceremony

The judging panel will announce the winning teams, followed by certificate distribution and closing remarks.

Requirements

Submission Requirements 1. Research Report (PDF)

Teams must submit a 4–6 page structured research paper that includes:

  • Problem Statement – Clear description of the problem being addressed

  • Background Research – Summary of existing work or literature related to the problem

  • Methodology – Approach or strategy proposed to solve the problem

  • Analysis – Insights, findings, or reasoning based on the research

  • References – Properly cited research papers, articles, datasets, or sources

2. Presentation Deck (PPT)

The presentation should include:

  • Problem Motivation – Why the problem is important

  • Research Findings – Key insights from the research process

  • Proposed Solution – Approach or model designed by the team

  • Impact – Potential real-world benefits or applications

3. Evidence Links

Teams should provide supporting resources such as:

  • Datasets used for research

  • GitHub repositories (if applicable)

  • Research references and sources

  • Demo videos or prototype links

4. Team Contribution Statement

Teams must include a brief explanation describing the role and contributions of each team member.

Suggested Presentation Structure

Teams may use the following structure as guidance:

  1. Title Slide

  2. Motivation – Why the problem matters

  3. Problem Statement & Research Question

  4. Related Work / Literature Review

  5. Proposed Approach

  6. Experimental Design / Data / Metrics

  7. Results or Expected Outcomes

  8. Analysis & Implications

  9. Team Contributions

  10. Limitations & Ethical Considerations

  11. Future Work

  12. References

⚠️ This structure is only a guideline. Teams are encouraged to present their work creatively and clearly.

Important Notes

 

  • The primary focus is on research thinking and structured problem-solving.

  • Fully completed solutions are not required.

  • Judges will value authentic research sources, logical reasoning, and clarity of ideas.

  • Teams that transparently present their attempts, challenges, and learning process may also receive recognition.

Hackathon Sponsors

Prizes

1 non-cash prize
WinQuest
2 winners

• HackerRank subscriptions for winning teams
• Participation certificates from HackerRank for all participants

Devpost Achievements

Submitting to this hackathon could earn you:

Judges

Jaishankar Janardan

Jaishankar Janardan
General Secretary

Judging Criteria

  • Judging criteria
    Judges will evaluate teams based on: • Originality of the idea • Research depth • Feasibility • Teamwork • Presentation quality • Potential real-world impact

Questions? Email the hackathon manager

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