The North East Seva First Innovation Challenge 2026 (NESFIC 2026) was inaugurated at the Administrative Staff College, Khanapara, Guwahati, as part of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyaan. The initiative aims to connect innovators with real-world challenges faced by government departments, industries and communities across the Northeast.
The launch was attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Secretary Dr Ravi Kota, Tim McIntosh, Head of Manufacturing Excellence and Operations at TSAT, and Dr Jeevan B., Secretary, Department of Innovation, Incubation and Start-ups.
NESFIC 2026 features 50 real-world challenges drawn from government departments and industry. Start-ups, researchers, professionals, individual innovators and student teams are being invited to develop practical solutions to these challenges.
The initiative also provides a pathway for promising ideas to move from concept to prototype, testing and deployment. According to reports, selected innovators will receive mentorship and support, with grants of up to ₹40 lakh available for eligible solutions. The programme also seeks to create opportunities for innovators to secure their first customers, including potential government users.
The challenge places particular emphasis on collaboration between higher education institutions, government and industry. It encourages students and young innovators to apply creative and critical thinking to problems affecting communities and develop solutions with practical applications.
The initiative is being positioned as a platform to strengthen the Northeast’s innovation ecosystem and connect local challenges with technology and entrepreneurship. Under the programme, selected start-ups are expected to work with the relevant problem owners, supported by data, testing facilities and mentoring.
