iStart Chapter 5 | ‘Challenge for Change’ offers startups big contracts for winning ideas

We continue with the iStart series and Chapter 5 today is on design and innovation.  Challenge for Change is one such competitive platform for entrepreneurs, professionals, and students to design and implement innovative integrated IT architecture.  The architecture so developed, will enhance efficiency, transparency and outreach of e-governance initiatives across different sectors such as the wool industry, agriculture, and mining, among others.

Today, we see entrepreneurs, professionals and students working on interesting technological solutions, which address the exact challenges that governments have been facing. However, often, the innovators stop short of working on government projects related to these solutions. One of the main reasons for this, they say, is the mandate in the traditional tendering process regarding prior experience, a minimum turnover, the requirement to furnish details regarding earnest money deposit, and other details.

To address this and give home-grown talent the opportunity to partner with the government and work directly work on relevant projects, the Rajasthan Government’s Department of Information Technology and Communication has designed the ‘Challenge for Change’.

The ‘Challenge for Change’ is a disruptive practice and a component of the Rajasthan Startup Promotion Action Agenda. It’s a one-of-a-kind initiative which has been designed to provide startups a fair opportunity to partner with the state government and play an important role in empowering Rajasthan to be the ‘Digital-sthan’ of the country.”

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“Technology and innovation have the capacity to drive large-scale social and economic change. However, for these solutions to have the maximum impact, governments also need to be proactive in bringing these to the fore.”

Get Direct Tendering Worth INR 1 CR

A key highlight of the Challenge for Change contest is that the startups get to bid for a government contract without the need to adhere to the standard tendering process. It also waives off several terms and conditions that government contracts are often saddled with, like the age of a company, the minimum turnover etc. The winning startups will be awarded direct work orders worth Rs. 1 crore from the Government of Rajasthan, post due evaluation.

Innovation is the challenge that unlocks the new value: iStart Rajasthan

Additionally, the state government will support the startups, from evaluating the prototype to ensuring its effective implementation. In addition, startups stand the chance to partner with the government on relevant projects depending on a startup or individual’s capabilities. As part of the challenge, students, professionals and startups can share innovative ideas and ingenious solutions for the challenges floated by the government and bring about change that will benefit the masses. Some challenges related to the State in open for which the solutions are to be called in the past included;

• Safe Drinking Water
• Water Canal leakage
• Detection of Quarry and Mine blasts using Remote Monitoring System
• Low Shelf Life of Agricultural Produce
• Conversion of Barren Land to Productive Land
• Reducing water intensive crop cultivation
• Boosting Wool Industry in Rajasthan

The evaluation panel comprises industry veterans, subject matter experts from sectors corresponding to the challenge areas, as well as leaders from key government departments. The ideas will be shortlisted on two key parameters – relatability and ease of execution.

So what are you waiting for, Submit your idea to enhance citizen-centric services and become the torch-bearer of Change.