GI startup challenge seeks solutions for authentic India

In a first of its kind initiative, startup India has launched a GI startup challenge to encourage startups to work on problem statements in the field Geographical Indications (GI). GI is a form of intellectual property which gives protection to goods related to foodstuff, agriculture, manufactured products & handicrafts and textiles coming from a particular geographical area and having unique characteristics.

While the GI registration has picked up immensely, the post GI management onbranding, promotions and enforcement has been the gap in this area for quite some time. Several teething problems like traceability, packaging, branding and also supply chain has been hitting hard this sector with not many solutions to help the stakeholders.

With this background, the GI startup grand challenge launched by Startup India on 30 December, 2023, to call for innovators and startups from all over India to provide solutions for traceability of products to help prevent infringed products and track products from farm to fork, from fiber to fashion by designing a label/tag, hologram or any technology to trace from origin to end point. Another area of the problem statement is to come out with smart packaging solutions with green and ecofriendly packaging to help and preserve the items and increase shelf life of food and agri products and also stylized packaging for handicrafts and handlooms. The last area of challenge is to come up with low-cost portable cold storage solutions for agri based GI products to maintain the aroma, colour and flavours of the products.

Subhajit Saha, Head of Legal & IPR at Resolute Group and GI agent said that this is a welcome move as startups can now work on a new area and on ground problems as this challenge is open to startups from the ideation stage, validation stage, early traction and scaling stage working in AI, design, analytics hardware technology, IOT, retail, AR /VR and other verticals.

He further stated that a total budget of Rs 90 lakhs has been allocated for this initiative with a first prize of Rs 20 lakhs and second prize of Rs 10 lakhs to the winning startups. The challenge is open from December 30, to January 28, 2024, with results to be announced on 20 February 2024. With over 500 products being registered this initiative comes as new business opportunity for startups and tech companies to give back to the society, help the GI registered art and artisans of India.