Guwahati: A new innovation initiative aimed at connecting startups and innovators with real-world challenges from government and industry is being introduced in Assam under the Seva Sankalp Abhiyaan.
The North-East SEVA FIRST Innovation Challenge 2026 is being launched as a national open innovation programme, with applications invited from startups, innovators, researchers, professionals and student teams from across India.
According to the programme details shared by Assam Minister Ranoj Pegu, the initiative will feature 50 challenges, including 40 from government departments and 10 from industry. Selected participants will have an opportunity to develop solutions to identified problems and potentially gain access to grants and prospective customers.
The challenge has two broad streams. The Open Challenges stream will present specific problem statements from government and industry, while the Open Innovation stream will allow participants to submit their own ideas in areas including technology, non-technology and social innovation.
The programme provides for idea-stage grants of up to ₹10 lakh for selected startups. For deep-tech solutions reaching the minimum viable product stage, grants of up to ₹40 lakh are available, with the poster specifying ₹20 lakh for general MVP support.
A total of 150 startups are expected to be selected for the Grand Finale. The programme also highlights an opportunity for participating innovators to secure a first customer for solutions developed in response to the challenges.
The initiative is open to individuals and teams of up to five members. Applicants must be 18 years or older, while startups, innovators, researchers, professionals and student teams are eligible to participate. The programme’s knowledge partners include IIT Guwahati, IIM Calcutta, IIT Bombay, IISc Bengaluru and IIT Tirupati, according to the information released by the organisers.
The application process is scheduled to run through November, with the final application deadline set for November 10, 2026. The poster lists September 25 to October 10 for webinars, orientation, workshops and outreach, followed by a November Grand Finale in Guwahati.
The challenge is being implemented by the Assam Innovation and Startup Foundation (AISF), with participation from knowledge partners and agencies from across the northeastern states.
Interested applicants can access the application portal mentioned in the official announcement: startup.assam.gov.in/nesfic26
