PINTECH Expo 2026: Punjab Confirms Rs 7.1 Million Cash Prizes for Students

The Punjab Higher Education Commission has announced cash prizes worth Rs 7.195 million for 49 winning student projects at the Honhaar Punjab Innovation and Technology (PINTECH) Expo 2026.

The announcement was shared by Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat. The prizes will be distributed across nine categories to recognize students showing innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial skills.

PINTECH Expo 2026: full prize breakdown

The commission has set five prize tiers. The highest prize of Rs 500,000 goes to one winning project in each of the nine categories, which makes Rs 4.5 million for the first prizes alone.

The complete distribution is as follows.

• First Prize: Rs 500,000 each for 9 winners, totaling Rs 4,500,000.
• First Runner-up: Rs 100,000 each for 13 winners, totaling Rs 1,300,000.
• Second Runner-up: Rs 75,000 each for 9 winners, totaling Rs 675,000.
• Third Runner-up: Rs 50,000 each for 9 winners, totaling Rs 450,000.
• Fourth Runner-up: Rs 30,000 each for 9 winners, totaling Rs 270,000.

Nine categories, nine top winners

Another 40 projects will be recognized through the four runner-up categories. Thirteen projects will get Rs 100,000 each as first runners-up. Seven categories will have one first runner-up each, while two categories will have three each.

Why Punjab is betting on student innovation

The initiative aims to encourage young innovators, promote technology-based projects, and support entrepreneurial thinking among students.

PINTECH brings together students, researchers, and industry leaders from across Punjab, with more than 1,500 innovative projects expected on showcase. Past editions have drawn hundreds of projects from dozens of universities and colleges, with categories spanning engineering, IT, medicine, agriculture, and social sciences.

The expo gives students a stage to present their ideas and show they can turn classroom concepts into working, practical solutions.

Frequently asked questions

What is PINTECH Expo?

The Punjab Innovation and Technology Expo, organized by the Punjab Higher Education Commission with the Higher Education Department. It is a showcase where students present innovative, technology-driven projects.

How much prize money was announced?

Rs 7.195 million in total, spread across 49 winning projects.

What is the highest prize at PINTECH Expo 2026?

Rs 500,000. Nine projects will win it, one from each of the nine categories.

Who announced the cash prizes?

The Punjab Higher Education Commission. The announcement was shared by Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat.

How are the runner-up prizes divided?

First runners-up get Rs 100,000 each (13 winners), second runners-up Rs 75,000 each (9 winners), third runners-up Rs 50,000 each (9 winners), and fourth runners-up Rs 30,000 each (9 winners).