TCS team secures spot at national AI Challenge Finals following NorthWest Hub win

A team from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), based at its Letterkenny Global Delivery Centre has won the NorthWest regional chapter of the prestigious TechIreland National AI Challenge 2025.

Their innovative solution, Project Aura: The AI-Native, Universally Accessible Browser, earned them the top spot and a coveted place in the National Finals, to be held in Galway tomorrow.

The TechIreland National AI Challenge is a hackathon-style initiative bringing together developers and AI enthusiasts from across Ireland to build practical AI solutions addressing real-world problems. This year's competition saw over 500 participants nationwide, with the first leg hosted across 10 regional hubs.

The winning TCS team comprising Arjun Prakash, Daniel Browne, Dean Burgess, Deepanand Saha Roy, Ersi Ni, Kaushal Bhavsar, Prince Mercy, and Sreekanth Palagiri, impressed judges with Aura's human-centred approach to redefining web accessibility. Their dedication and expertise secured them the top position at the regional event, held on September 5 and organised by the Donegal Hackathon Hub, a collaboration between Atlantic Technological University’s CoLab, ALPHA Innovation and WiSAR Labs.

"We are incredibly proud of our team's success at the NorthWest Hub and the remarkable work they've done with Project Aura,” said Chris Lynch, Senior Leader & Delivery Head, TCS Letterkenny GDC. “We’re thrilled that TCS will represent the NorthWest at the National Finals and showcase the transformative potential of AI in creating a more accessible digital world. It’s also exciting to see three teams from the NorthWest advancing to the Finals, the highest number from any regional hub nationwide. This is a true testament to the talent and innovation within our local workforce.”

“Project Aura is more than just a browser, it’s a statement of intent,” said Deepanand Saha Roy, Head of A, Data & Analytics at TCS Letterkenny GDC and a member of the winning team. “We set out to challenge the status quo in web accessibility by designing an AI-native solution that adapts to real user needs. Our goal is to make the internet truly inclusive, and we’re excited to bring this vision to the national stage.”

The TCS team will now present Project Aura at the National AI Meet in Galway on September 18, joining 14 other finalist teams. The third edition of the National AI Meet will convene senior leaders from industry, academia, and public policy to highlight Ireland’s growing leadership in AI adoption. The event will be officially opened by Minister Niamh Smyth TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Transformation.

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Inspired by Ireland’s national AI strategy, “AI - Here for Good,” the National AI Challenge promotes people-centered, ethical AI development across diverse sectors including FinTech, InsurTech, Health, Enterprise Solutions, Public Services, ImmersiveTech and Sustainability.