YK Poudel

In line with His Majesty’s vision of creating inclusive, innovative and resilient communities; the National Innovation Platform – Naykap Gokab was launched in Thimphu yesterday.

Naykap Gokab is designed to be an inclusive platform that is accessible to everyone—from farmers to students, entrepreneurs to policymakers, and grassroots innovators to tech innovators.

Innovative ideas such as Street Light Automation, Bhutan Mobile Gaming Association, Gyelrab Analytics, Thinley Animation, and HydroGarner 2.0 among many were presented during the launch of the platform.

Clever Crew, a group of young developers brought the platform to life. They were selected from among 22 teams who competed in a hackathon organized by the then Ministry of Economic Affairs, DHI InnoTech, and UNDP.

The team leader of the project, Sangay Thinley said that the open-access platform allows users to connect and collaborate in sharing ideas, problems and solutions. “Any registered user with internet access can share problems as well as solutions to a certain problem at the portal.”

He said, “Innovation and problem-solving will thrive leveraging on ICT and AI advances.”

The platform, he said, meant for the creative minds requires additional features with more information, collaboration from various stakeholders and gradually connecting with global innovators.

The initiative of the platform which began in July 2022, has eight webpages that act as a module for input and output of information and data.

MoICE Lyonpo Karma Dorji said that innovation was crucial for the development of any nation for which such a platform will enable creative minds to showcase their expertise and learn. “Innovation refers to finding new and better ways to doing things.”

“The platform will provide the government and policymakers with access to reliable and authentic data that will help in framing informed, and evidence-based policies in the country,” he said.

With the launch, he said, the platform should be a springboard and be able to transform the economy and improve the livelihood of the people.

UNDP Resident Representative, Mohammad Younus said that the platform is a medium for Bhutanese creative minds to have online access to a data centre where one can share problems to get solutions or share solutions to an existing problem.

“The launch is a mark of the first platform in Bhutan that seeks to promote and showcase local innovative ideas and solutions,” he said.