CHENNAI: Coimbatore-based Forge Accelerator has launched an ideathon challenge in partnership with MHRD Innovation Cell of AICTE, MeitY Startup Hub, Govt of India, CIIE of IIMA, InnovatioCuris among other organisations. Titled Fight Corona Innovation Challenge, the first leg of challenge would go on till the end of Saturday.Vish Sahasranamam, CEO, Forge Accelerator, added that they would conduct more sessions of the innovation challenge in the coming weeks.“This is hosted entirely in virtual mode during which several ideas of solutions relevant to Covid-19 are being currently evaluated, mentored, documented, and selected for next stages of innovation grants, seed funding and incubation support. Around 30+ employees and interns in Forge are working to bring together idea validation, refinement, solution generation and evaluation, pitching and assessments, to funnel the most innovative and impactful ideas to the COVID-19 Challenge launched by MyGov under the PMO in partnership with MoHFW. In addition, efforts are being taken to offer Innovation Grants funded through grant schemes implemented by Forge and from CSR contributions raised for this purpose subsequently,” he said.The current leg is seeing participation from 5,300 people – which include students, educators and entrepreneurs. Ideas in topics ranging from personal hygiene, screening and testing, remote work and remote education are currently being brainstormed.“The winners will be offered innovation grants through grant schemes implemented by Forge and from CSR contributions raised for this purpose subsequently and incubation support at the accelerator,” added Sahasranamam.