Asia’s first hyperloop contest to showcase innovation in high-speed travel

Asia’s first international hyperloop competition got under way at Discovery, the satellite campus of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras at Thaiyur on Friday. The global hyperloop competition 2025 is aimed at uniting global talent, industry leaders and researchers; fostering collaboration and innovation; and bringing forth a real-world implementation of the hyperloop technology. The competition is being held at the institute’s unique hyperloop test infrastructure – a state-of-the-art facility built with the support of Indian Railways, Arcelor Mittal, Larson and Toubro and HindalCo. Satya Chakravarthy, faculty advisor, said: “By bringing together young innovators, industry leaders and researchers, we are fostering a collaborative ecosystem that will accelerate the future of ultra-fast, sustainable mobility.” The institute has been conducting research for seven years, and boasts of the longest operational student-run hyperloop test tube and track, spanning 422 metres. The competition will feature pod demonstration, showcasing functional hyperloop pod prototypes; hyperloop InnoQuest – a case study challenge exploring hyperloop technology and implementation; and DesignX – a platform for teams to present innovative hyperloop designs.