Deadline: September 17, 2025
The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) announces the launch of the 8th edition of the Open Challenge Program (OCP 8.0) under the OCTANE Centres of Entrepreneurship (CoEs) dedicated to fostering technology-led innovation across North Eastern India.
The objectives and focus areas of the program include incubating startups focusing on IoT solutions in the agricultural sector, creating a strong ecosystem that supports agritech startups with mentorship, funding, and technical support, developing innovative solutions that address core agricultural challenges in the region, enhancing productivity and efficiency in agriculture through smart IoT applications, and fostering a culture of innovation and technology adoption among students and professionals in the agricultural domain.
The program also aims to incubate start-ups working in the domain of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, create a conducive ecosystem that supports AR and VR startups with mentorship, funding and technical support, develop innovative solutions that address core challenges in the region, and foster a culture of innovation and technology adoption among students and professionals in the AR, VR, MR, and XR domain.
It seeks to incubate start-ups working in the domain of Animation, create a conducive ecosystem that supports Animation startups with mentorship, funding and technical support, develop innovative solutions that address core challenges in the region, and foster a culture of innovation and technology adoption among students and professionals in the Animation domain.
The program focuses on incubating start-ups in Gaming and Entertainment, providing a robust platform for start-ups with single umbrella support services like mentorship, seed capital assistance, and marketing support including IPR protection. It also aims to create employment opportunities in new innovative start-ups, foster a culture of innovation and technology adoption among students and professionals in the Gaming and Entertainment domain, identify the core problems of the local industry and find solutions, and facilitate E-Commerce activities and applications.
Another objective is to incubate startups focusing on IT and ITES solutions in the Data Analytics and AI sector, create a strong ecosystem that supports Data Analytics and AI startups with mentorship, funding, and technical support, develop innovative solutions that address core Data Analytics and AI challenges in the region, enhance productivity and efficiency in agriculture through smart Data Analytics and AI applications, and foster a culture of innovation and technology adoption among students and professionals in the Data Analytics and AI domain.
The initiative will also create a strong ecosystem that supports GIS and Drone startups with mentorship, funding, and technical support, incubate startups focusing on applications in the GIS and Drone sector, develop innovative solutions using GIS and Drone technology that address core challenges in the region, and foster a culture of innovation and technology adoption among students and professionals in the GIS and Drone sector.
Finally, the program aims to incubate startups focusing on IT-driven solutions in the graphic design sector, create a strong ecosystem that supports design-tech startups with mentorship, funding, and technical support, develop innovative digital design tools and platforms that address core challenges in the creative industry, enhance productivity and efficiency in graphic design through smart IT applications and automation, and foster a culture of innovation and technology adoption among students and professionals in the graphic design domain.OCP 8.0 is being launched across multiple Centres of Excellence in the North East, each with a specific sectoral focus. These include IoT in Agriculture at Guwahati, AR/VR in Imphal, Animation at Shillong, Gaming and Entertainment at Aizawl, Data Analytics and AI at Agartala, Healthcare technologies at Gangtok, GIS and Drone Technology at Itanagar, and IT Application in Graphic Design at Kohima. Each CoE will provide state-of-the-art incubation facilities, seed funding, mentorship, marketing assistance, and IPR support tailored to the respective technology domain.
Applicants must be incorporated as a Private Limited Company, a Registered Partnership Firm, or a Limited Liability Partnership registered within the last 10 years. Entities should not have been formed by restructuring an existing business and must have an annual turnover not exceeding Rs. 100 crore in any financial year since incorporation. Startups must demonstrate innovation, development, or improvement of products, services, or processes with the potential to generate employment and create wealth.
Facilities across the CoEs include incubation spaces, domain-specific labs, high-speed internet, plug-and-play infrastructure, technical and financial support, business development services, legal and IPR assistance, and expert mentoring. Some CoEs also provide AWS credits, direct funding support for proof-of-concept and prototypes, and specialized training programs.
The program timeline begins with the announcement and registration opening on 1 September 2025, followed by application submission deadlines on 15–17 September 2025 depending on the CoE. Pre-screening is scheduled for 17–18 September, shortlisted applications will be declared on 19 September, final pitching rounds will take place between 24–26 September, and the results will be announced on 30 September 2025.
OCP 8.0 is organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), and AIC STPINEXT INITIATIVES, in collaboration with leading universities and institutions across the North East. Over a five-year period, the initiative aims to support 367 startups across different technology verticals, driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation in the region.
For more information, visit STPI.
