Deadline Date: January 10, 2026
The Open Challenge Program (OCP)-8.0 is an initiative under the Startup Punjab Hub at STPI, branded as NEURON-CoE, launched by the Government of Punjab in partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, STPI Mohali, ISB Mohali, and IKGPTU Jalandhar, to support cutting-edge IT entrepreneurs and strengthen the startup ecosystem.
The focus areas and objectives of this initiative include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Analytics (DA), Internet of Things (IoT), Gaming Animation (AVG), Build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovations in Startups, Ensure necessary convergence and synergy in various Central and State programs promoting innovations, entrepreneurship and Startups, Promote networking of various reputed academic institutions carrying out research activities and innovations, and other organizations running incubators and accelerators, Stimulate the establishment and growth of technology-based startups working within the domains of Data Analytics, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Audio-Visual Games (AVG), Enhance job creation and economic health of the State, To shape an industry that has huge potential in gaming and animation, To equip animation makers with skill levels at par with international standards, and To allow for experimentation and exploration using diverse media, techniques and tools.
The Open Challenge Program (OCP)-8.0 has been designed to identify and support potential technology entrepreneurs, particularly those working in advanced digital domains. Through NEURON-CoE, the program aims to significantly contribute towards product development, innovation-led entrepreneurship, and job creation, while enhancing the economic health of the region.
Selected startups and innovators gain access to specialized infrastructure and ecosystem support. This includes access to a state-of-the-art Animated Visual Graphics Lab, technical support such as virtual machine GPU facilities in the AI and Data Analytics Lab, and access to a dedicated Internet of Things Lab. The program also provides structured mentoring support to help startups refine their ideas and scale effectively.
In addition to technical infrastructure, the program offers access to AWS credits, assistance in intellectual property filing, networking support through national and international forums, and access to funding through various schemes. These offerings are aimed at enabling startups to innovate, experiment, and commercialize solutions aligned with emerging technology trends.
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