The Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has announced cash prizes worth Rs. 71.95 lakh for 49 student projects at the Honhaar Punjab Innovation and Technology (PINTECH) Expo 2026.
The awards will recognize students who develop innovative ideas, create technology-based solutions, and demonstrate entrepreneurial skills.
According to Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, the cash prizes will be distributed among winning projects across nine categories. The rewards range from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 5 lakh, depending on the project's position in the competition.
PINTECH Expo 2026 Prize Money
The commission has announced five prize levels for the competition. Nine projects will receive the highest award of Rs. 5 lakh each.
The complete prize distribution is given below:
| Prize Category | Prize Per Project | Number of Winners | Total Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Prize | Rs. 5 lakh | 9 | Rs. 45 lakh |
| First Runner-up | Rs. 1 lakh | 13 | Rs. 13 lakh |
| Second Runner-up | Rs. 75,000 | 9 | Rs. 6.75 lakh |
| Third Runner-up | Rs. 50,000 | 9 | Rs. 4.5 lakh |
| Fourth Runner-up | Rs. 30,000 | 9 | Rs. 2.7 lakh |
| Total | 49 | Rs. 71.95 lakh |
The highest prize category will account for Rs. 45 lakh of the total allocation. The remaining Rs. 26.95 lakh will be distributed among 40 runner-up projects.
Nine Projects to Receive Rs. 5 Lakh Each
The PHEC will select one first-prize winner from each of the nine competition categories.
Each winning project will receive Rs. 5 lakh, providing financial recognition to students who present outstanding ideas and practical innovations.
The competition is designed to encourage students to develop solutions that can address real-world challenges through research, creativity, and technology.
Cash Rewards for Runner-up Projects
The commission will also recognize 40 projects through four runner-up categories.
A total of 13 projects will receive Rs. 1 lakh each as first runner-up winners. The distribution will include seven categories with one winner each and two categories with three winners each.
Another nine projects will receive Rs. 75,000 each, while nine third runner-up projects will be awarded Rs. 50,000 each.
The remaining nine projects will receive Rs. 30,000 each as fourth runner-up winners.
These awards will allow more students to receive financial recognition for their work and encourage them to continue developing their ideas.
PINTECH Expo 2026 to Encourage Student Innovation
The Punjab Higher Education Commission is organizing the PINTECH Expo 2026 to provide students with an opportunity to present their innovative projects and demonstrate their technical skills.
The initiative aims to promote research, creativity, entrepreneurship, and technology-based learning in Punjab's higher education institutions.
Through the expo, students will be encouraged to move beyond classroom learning and develop practical solutions to real-world problems.
The announced cash prizes are intended to recognize outstanding student projects and motivate young innovators to continue working on their ideas.
The initiative also reflects the growing importance of technology, research, and entrepreneurship in higher education and the development of future professionals.
