Goa hackathon to promote govt-startup collaborationGoa hackathon to promote govt-startup collaboration

The Goa government department is hosting a two-month hackathon called the Goa Open Innovation Challenge, inviting startups and innovators from across India to collaborate on real-life solutions to government departmental problems. The challenge will focus on areas like tourism, industries, law and order, agriculture, and renewable energy. The initiative aims to foster a problem-solving culture among startups and innovators, enabling them to address issues such as governance, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and environment.

Named the Goa Open Innovation Challenge, it will be a two-month programme that will be inaugurated on March 28. Although the department has not indicated the challenges that are faced by govt departments, the possible areas are tourism, industries, law and order, agriculture and renewable energy.

"Govt is banking on startups leveraging new technologies like artificial intelligence, blockchain and the internet of things to solve local issues department-wise and industry-wise," a govt official said.

The programme is intended to bring govt departments, corporations, industries and the startup ecosystem together. Startups will be asked to work on actual problems identified by departments, said an official. Smart policing is among the areas most likely to be explored.

The department aims to develop and foster a problem-solving culture among startups and innovators who can in turn "address issues ranging from governance, infrastructure, healthcare, education, and environment" for the state. By way of the Goa Hackathon, the department is seeking to bridge the gap between technology solutions and bureaucratic problems. Startups will be requested to work with govt departments and industry leaders.