Submissions open for GovTech Innovation Challenge 2025

Program Objectives

• Creating a platform for private companies to design and test innovative digital solutions for the public sector to enhance government efficiency, transparency, and citizen services.
  • Select Top 3 best proposals globally to address specific GovTech Challenge
  • Develop a Proof of Concept to demonstrate proposal’s technical feasibility
  • Proceed to the practical implementation with a specific government

This Year’s Challenge

• Improving Tax Resource Mobilisation in Ghana
  • Ghana needs more resources to improve public services and build essential infrastructure. According to Afrobarometer, 79% of Ghanaians support paying taxes to help develop their country rather than relying on foreign aid. But despite this strong public support, tax collection remains low compared to other countries in the region. Many government systems still lack the capacity to reach everyone effectively.
  • By designing simple, smart tax solutions, you can help Ghana unlock more domestic revenue and ensure better services for its citizens.
  • Challenge Statements:
    • Informal Sector Taxation
      • Design software solutions to identify, assess and incentivise sole proprietors to register and comply with their tax obligations.
      • The challenge focuses on identifying new taxpayers and improving compliance among existing ones, particularly with regard to income tax.
      • Your proposal should consist of one or more of the following elements:
        • Innovative methods for identifying informal sector businesses and sole proprietors as eligible taxpayers
        • Mobile-first solutions tailored for low-tech environments in underserved remote communities
        • Simplification of digital registration, tax education, and tax filling processes
    • E-Commerce Taxation
      • Design software solution to identify companies operating in the digital services sector and monitor digital transactions to ensure registration and compliance with tax obligations.
      • The challenge focuses on automated VAT taxpayers registration, enabling a seamless, end-to-end compliance process.
      • Your proposal should consist of one or more of the following elements:
      • Automated identification of domestic e-commerce businesses (digital sevices provided by non-residents is a plus)
      • Real-time monitoring of online transactions through payment service providers for upfront VAT deduction
      • Comprehensive transaction and compliance verification

Key Program Benefits

• World Bank Partnership
  • Get exposure to public sector clients having support from the World Bank
• GovTech Capacity Building
  • Get executive level training in Switzerland on key public-private collaboration aspects
• Public Sector Engagement
  • Design proof of concept for specific tax administration issues with Ghana Revenue Authority

What do selected startups receive?

• Selected companies will be invited to participate in the following activities:
  • 4-day GovTech Bootcamp in Switzerland
    • A hands-on program designed to foster innovation and collaboration
      • Field Visits to Leading Institutions: International Geneva, State of Vaud, EPFL, EPFL Innovation Park, SICPA, SGS, Kudelski and more.
      • Mentoring & Networking Opportunities: Engage with domain experts and connect with key stakeholders from the Swiss financial sector.​
      • Workshops on Public Sector Collaboration: Covering B2G engagement, regulatory compliance, scalability planning, and proposal refinement in collaboration with the beneficiary country.
  • Govtech Conference in Geneva
    • The flagship event hosted at the Geneva International Conference Centre, which will bring together over 500 attendees from across the public and private sectors
      • Showcase of Top 3 Proposals: Finalists present their innovative solutions to a global audience.
      • Insights from the Innovation Challenge: Reflections on key learnings, challenges, and future opportunities.
      • Quantum in Public Administration: Quantum 101. An accessible introduction to quantum technologies and their potential impact on government operations.
      • Digital Trust in Public Sector Digitization: Exploring frameworks that ensure secure, transparent, and trusted digital transformation.
      • AI in Public Administration: Panel discussions on cybersecurity, governance, and ethical AI deployment in government.
      • Resource Mobilization, Tax Administration & Digital Trust: Examining how digital tools are reshaping public finance and trust-building mechanisms.

Who can apply?

• Early-stage startups, scale-ups, and SMEs that:
  • Are legally incorporated
  • Have fewer than 75 employees
  • Have under $5M USD in annual revenue
  • Possess technical, operational, and business expertise relevant to the challenge
  • Have the capacity to actively participate in challenge activities

For more information, visit Trust Valley.