Events
Pelsung - Innovate For GMC Officially Launched
His Majesty The King officially launches the Innovate for GMC Challenge in the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC). Grants the name, 'Pelsung - Guardians of Prosperity.'
October 8, 2025Read More →
Young Minds | Bold Ideas Building GMC
An innovation program empowering Bhutanese youth to grow into leaders of GMC.
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Program Brief (PDF) →About Pelsung: Innovate for GMC
The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), envisioned by His Majesty The King, is Bhutan’s model for values-led, innovative, and sustainable development. More than an economic hub, GMC is a living experiment in mindful living where economic progress, environmental stewardship, and spiritual well-being converge. To align youth with this vision, Pelsung was launched as the flagship program of GMC. It seeks to empower young Bhutanese to design and develop mindful solutions that meaningfully contribute towards the development of the city.
Program Objectives
Cultivate a culture of civic innovation led by youth
Develop context-sensitive solutions for GMC systems
Empower youth with practical leadership skills
Grow Bhutanese youth into leaders of GMC
Program Journey
Launch
Open call announcement & info sessions
Selection
Screening and finalist teams announced
Sprints
Workshops, mentorship, and prototyping
Demo Day
Showcase solutions to stakeholders
Challenge Areas
Pelsung participants tackle bold real-world challenges across four thematic domains.
Social & Cultural
- • Community wellbeing initiatives
- • Preserving heritage & culture
- • Youth-driven mental health programs
Business & Commercial
- • Agri-tech startups
- • Wellness tourism models
- • E-commerce platforms for artisans
Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning
- • Space beautification & nurseries
- • Urban planning & disaster management
- • Sustainable architecture & cost standards
Governance, Planning & Strategy
- • Urban planning strategies
- • Climate resilience projects
- • Citizen engagement platforms
How to Apply
Follow these simple steps and check your eligibility to join the Pelsung Challenge.
Application Steps
1. Open Call
The Innovate for GMC Challenge is officially announced with detailed program guidelines and eligibility information.
2. Online Registration
Applicants complete their registration and submit profiles, motivations, and ideas through the official portal (portal.innovateforgmc.bt).
3. Screening & Evaluation
Shortlisted candidates will be evaluated by the committee and through innovative assessments.
4. Final Selection
The final cohort is selected and notified, with participants matched into innovation units based on their skills, interests, and proposed ideas.
Eligibility
- Bhutanese citizens aged 20–35
- Students, graduates, and young professionals
- A minimum of a diploma qualification is required
- Interest in innovation, design, policy, or entrepreneurship
- Fully committed to reside in Gelephu for the three-months challenge duration
Latest Updates
News, events, and impact stories from the Pelsung Challenge.
Opportunities
Innovate for GMC programme to engage 500 young Bhutanese
Bhutan is set to launch a major youth-focused initiative this October as part of the Gelephu Mindfulness City vision. The Innovate for GMC programme will bring together 500 young Bhutanese, aged 20 to 35, for a three-month journey to turn bold ideas into actionable solutions addressing national and global challenges.
September 29, 2025Read More →
Impact
Innovate for GMC draws about 1,700 applicants
Gelephu—The flagship innovation programme of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), ‘Innovate for GMC’, has drawn an extraordinary response from Bhutanese youth, with 1,695 applications received for its inaugural cohort.
September 23, 2025Read More →
Join the Movement
Be part of Bhutan’s mindful future. Apply today and help shape GMC as a hub of civic innovation, culture, and sustainability.