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. Designed for 500 participants between the ages of 20 and 35, the programme even attracted applicants from Bhutanese youth living abroad. A standby list of 200 candidates has been created in case any selected participants do not meet the mandatory requirements.

Chair of the programme team, Tshering Gyaltshen Penjor, said the turnout far exceeded expectations, which shows the passion and excitement of the youth to contribute to His Majesty’s vision for the GMC. “This is just the beginning. We will continue to host similar challenges, and we warmly invite all those who could not join this round to stay engaged and seize the next opportunity,” he added. Applications were open to students, graduates, earlycareer professionals, entrepreneurs, civil servants, and private-sector employees with at least a diploma. Many master’s degree holders also applied, according to the organisers. Government agencies were allowed to nominate up to five civil servants per cohort, while applicants from civil society and private firms were required to submit no-objection letters from their employers.

The application window closed on September 19. Submissions are being screened through an AI-enabled process that assigns participants to challenge tracks based on their background and interests. Selected candidates are then grouped into teams of up to 10 members. Before enrolment, candidates must undergo mandatory medical and drug screenings in Thimphu or Gelephu and attend an online pre-orientation covering programme logistics and expectations. Transport will be provided from Thimphu to GMC for the three-month programme, which begins on October 7. Each participant will receive a monthly stipend of Nu 30,000 along with additional allowances to cover living expenses such as rent and food. Suitable accommodation has been arranged for their stay. While participants are expected to bring their own laptops, they will also have access to shared workstations equipped with desktops, software, digital fabrication tools, and templates for final deliverables. At its core, Innovate for GMC seeks to empower young Bhutanese to co-create solutions to national and global challenges through four pathways: policy, entrepreneurship, non-profit projects, and blended fourth-sector initiatives.

The programme aims to foster youth-led civic innovation, generate homegrown solutions tailored to Bhutan’s context, and build a pipeline of future leaders. It will also inform the establishment of a GMC Innovation Lab connected to both national and international platforms. The three-month programme is structured into phases of exploration, ideation, and refinement. Teams will focus on GMC’s eight priority areas: health and wellbeing, education and knowledge, agritech and forestry, green energy and technologies, tourism, aviation and logistics, governance and public services, and technology for mindfulness. To guide this work, participants will be paired with mentors including industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, and innovators from Bhutan and abroad. They will take part in lectures, workshops, and field visits to GMC, Bhutanese communities, and neighbouring areas to ensure their solutions remain locally grounded. Beyond the training, the programme will create a youth alumni network, open opportunities for professional development and fellowships, and showcase projects at a Demo Day. Promising innovations may eventually be integrated into GMC’s systems and scaled across Bhutan.

Source: Kuensel (Lhakpa Quendren)