Agency: More than 1,695 young Bhutanese have applied for the first cohort of Innovate for GMC which is a flagship innovation program under the vision of His Majesty The King to build the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC).
Applications opened on 14th September 2025 and crossed the initial ceiling of 500, reflecting the overwhelming interest among Bhutanese youth in shaping the country’s future through innovation. It closed on 19th September.
The three-month program, which will run from October to December 2025, will bring together selected participants between the ages of 20 and 35 to explore, design, and prototype solutions to pressing national and global challenges.
Innovate for GMC seeks to empower Bhutanese youth to co-create mindful, values-led approaches through four key pathways: policy, entrepreneurship, non-profit projects, and blended fourth sector initiatives.
The initiative is envisioned as more than just a training program. It aims to become a national pipeline of changemakers, a proving ground for civic innovation, and a gateway into Bhutan’s evolving innovation ecosystem.
Participants will work in dynamic innovation units supported by experienced mentors, industry experts, and policymakers, receiving stipends, resources, and structured support to translate their ideas into action.
Each participant will receive a stipend of Nu 30,00 per month for until the completion of the program, and at the same time after the completion of ideas seed funds will be provided to pilot and support the them. Participants are expected to utilize the stipend either by arranging their accommodations privately or choose from a variety of options facilitated by the program team. Rent and other living expenditures must be borne by the participants using the living allowance provided.
The challenge areas span social and cultural innovation, business and commercial ventures, governance and strategy, and engineering and urban planning.
By rooting innovation in Bhutanese values while carrying lessons of global relevance, the program hopes to position GMC as a model for how societies can thrive at the intersection of economic development, environmental stewardship, and spiritual well-being.
The program is designed as a journey of learning, collaboration, and execution.
The first month will focus on orientation and exploration, introducing participants to the principles of mindful innovation and equipping them with foundational tools. This stage will include field visits to Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary, Manas National Park, and exposure trips to Assam and Shillong.
