CREDAI BuildSmart Innovation Challenge: Fostering Sustainable Real Estate in Mangaluru
Mangaluru: The CREDAI BuildSmart Innovation Challenge, launched by CREDAI Mangalore in partnership with Section Infin-8 Foundation (SI-8) and Mission Utthan, is poised to usher in a new era of innovation and sustainability in India's construction and real estate sectors.
Vishwas US, founder director of Section Infin-8 Foundation, highlighted the initiative's goal to position Mangaluru as the IT capital during a press conference on Thursday. Close to 30 applications have already been received from students, innovators, and early-stage startups, with the deadline set for November 30. The launch event, held at the Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), brought together industry leaders, academic institutions, and government bodies to support technology-driven urban development in Mangaluru.
The collaboration between CREDAI Mangalore and SI-8 was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at EMERGE 2025, India's first Startup Beach Festival. At the same event, SI-8 entered into another MoU with Nexus Core, which will co-lead programme design, innovation strategy, and execution, ensuring the challenge meets global standards.
CREDAI Mangalore stands out as the first chapter in the country to partner with an incubation enabler to run a comprehensive innovation challenge focused on sustainable construction technologies. NITK Surathkal has also joined forces with the EMERGE team to lead the challenge. Mission Utthan, a national initiative supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) of the Government of India, is a key participant in the programme, as noted by Arjun J Rao, CEO of CREDAI Mangalore.
The BuildSmart Innovation Challenge 2025 is structured as a two-phase national programme designed to identify practical, scalable ideas that enhance efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in real estate and construction. The challenge focuses on several key problem statements, including the development of a construction waste management platform to ensure traceable recycling and reuse, the creation of a unified communication and grievance-tracking system for CREDAI members, the digitization of the RERA single-window approval process to simplify regulatory compliance, and the establishment of a verified skilled-labour registry integrating Skill India, ESIC, and PF databases.
Innovators are also encouraged to propose digital, material, or policy-driven solutions that advance green construction and renewable energy use, as emphasized by Meraj Yusuf, secretary of the CREDAI Youth Wing. The top participants will receive a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, mentorship from CREDAI industry leaders, pilot opportunities with CREDAI member firms, incubation support from SI-8 and Mission Utthan, and the chance to showcase their work at EMERGE 2026, India's Startup Beach Festival, scheduled from January 9-11, 2026, at Tannirbhavi Beach.
The top 10 teams will be mentored throughout December, and their prototypes will be displayed at EMERGE 2026. Registration for student teams is free, making this challenge accessible to a wide range of innovators and aspiring professionals in the field.
