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Identify talent
Discover promising researchers and technology teams working on innovations relevant to the future of finance.
A pre–Vibrant Gujarat 2027 event
GIFT FutureLab
GIFT FutureLab
Grand Challenge 2026–27
From Technology to Trust: Shaping the Future of Finance
A national platform to identify promising researchers, technology teams and application-oriented innovations whose work can be applied to the evolving needs of the financial sector — presented before experts from academia, technology, financial services, industry and the GIFT City ecosystem.
Applications close
20 November 2026
Grand Finale
22 December 2026
Gift City, Gandhinagar
Gift City, Gandhinagar
Total awards
₹6 lakh
About
About the Grand Challenge
The financial sector is undergoing rapid transformation. Advances in artificial intelligence, digital assets, cybersecurity, quantum technologies and financial infrastructure are creating new possibilities for more efficient, secure, accessible and trusted financial services.
The GIFT FutureLab Grand Challenge 2026–27 is a national-level innovation competition that seeks to identify promising researchers, technology teams and application-oriented innovations that can contribute to this transformation. It brings together participants from academic and research institutions across India and provides a platform to present their work to experts from academia, technology, financial services, industry and the GIFT City ecosystem.
Through the challenge, GIFT City, the GIFT International Fintech Institute (GIFT-IFI) and IIT Gandhinagar aim to connect emerging research and technologies with the practical needs of financial institutions and markets. The competition remains application-led rather than restricted to narrow technology tracks.
Our Objectives
What the challenge sets out to do
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Surface real solutions
Find research and technologies that can address real-world needs across financial services.
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Translate research
Encourage the translation of research into applications that improve efficiency, security, resilience, accessibility and trust.
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Connect innovators
Link innovators with the financial ecosystem — experts, institutions, technology partners and potential users.
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Open doors for further engagement
Facilitate opportunities for validation, research collaboration, pilots or commercialisation — depending on the relevance of the work and stakeholder interest.
Focus Areas
Indicative areas of innovation
The challenge is application-led. Your work may already focus on financial services, or it may have originated in another field but show clear potential for application in finance. Indicative areas include — but are not limited to:
01
Intelligent & Autonomous Financial Systems
AI-driven decisioning, automation and agentic systems for financial services.
02
Digital Assets & Programmable Finance
Tokenisation, programmable money and next-generation digital-asset infrastructure.
03
Quantum-Ready Financial Infrastructure
Quantum and post-quantum approaches for computation and security in finance.
04
Cybersecurity, Fraud & Risk Management
Identity, trust, threat detection and resilient risk management for institutions.
05
Regulatory Technologies (RegTech)
Compliance, supervision, reporting and transparency powered by technology.
06
Next-Generation Financial Infrastructure
Payments, settlement, interoperability and the rails of modern finance.
07
Other Emerging Technologies
Any emerging technology relevant to financial services and the GIFT City ecosystem.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility
- Open to students and researchers from technical, management and other higher-education institutions across India.
- Applicants may participate individually or as teams.
- Work at different stages of development is welcome — from early research to working prototypes and proofs of concept.
Note Details of team size and faculty participation will be shared in the final eligibility guidelines.
What We're Looking For
What makes a strong application
We invite work on technologies, research outcomes, prototypes, proofs of concept and other application-oriented innovations. We are particularly interested in work that demonstrates:
- A meaningful problem or opportunity in the financial sector.
- Originality and technical or research merit.
- A clear explanation of the technology and its potential application.
- A credible pathway towards further development and real-world use.
- Potential to improve financial services, infrastructure, security, accessibility or trust.
Awards & Opportunities
Recognition for outstanding innovation
Three outstanding innovations will be recognised with cash awards totalling ₹6,00,000.
2nd
₹2,00,000
Second Award
1st
₹3,00,000
First Award
3rd
₹1,00,000
Third Award
Present to a distinguished jury
Selected teams present their work to experts from academia, technology, financial services, industry and the GIFT City ecosystem.
Engage with the ecosystem
With support from GIFT City, efforts will be made to facilitate interactions with banks, financial institutions, fintech companies and other partners — opening pathways to validation, research collaboration, pilot deployment or commercialisation.
Showcase at Vibrant Gujarat 2027
The top three teams may have an opportunity to showcase their innovations at a suitable GIFT City / Vibrant Gujarat 2027 platform in January 2027, subject to the event schedule and arrangements.
Programme Timeline
Key dates
Approximately 10–12 teams will be invited to present at the offline Grand Finale.
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20 Nov 2026
Application deadline
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25 Nov 2026
First shortlist
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30 Nov 2026
First interaction & mentoring
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4 Dec 2026
Final shortlist
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Until the Finale
Continued online mentoring
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22 Dec 2026
Grand Finale at IIT Gandhinagar
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Jan 2027
Potential GIFT City / Vibrant Gujarat showcasesubject to arrangements
Application Process
How to apply
The application and preliminary evaluation process is conducted entirely online.
1
Prepare your idea
Summarise your innovation — the problem it addresses, your approach, its current stage and the pathway to real-world application.
2
Submit online
Complete the online application form before the deadline on 20 November 2026.
3
Screening & shortlist
Applications are evaluated on novelty, technical merit, relevance, feasibility, impact and translational potential.
4
Mentoring
Shortlisted teams receive interaction and online mentoring leading up to the Finale.
5
Grand Finale
~10–12 finalist teams present at IIT Gandhinagar before a distinguished jury.
Ready to shape the future of finance?
Applications are open to students and researchers across India. Submit before 20 November 2026.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who can take part in the Grand Challenge?
The challenge is open to students and researchers from technical, management and other higher-education institutions across India. You may apply individually or as a team.
What kind of work are you looking for?
Technologies, research outcomes, prototypes, proofs of concept and other application-oriented innovations relevant to the future of finance. Your work may already focus on financial services, or may come from another field with clear potential to be applied in finance. Work at different stages of development is welcome.
Do I need to focus on a specific technology track?
No. The challenge is application-led, not restricted to narrow tracks. Indicative areas include intelligent and autonomous financial systems, digital assets and programmable finance, quantum-ready infrastructure, cybersecurity and risk, RegTech, next-generation financial infrastructure, and other emerging technologies relevant to financial services and GIFT City.
How are applications evaluated?
Through a structured screening process based on novelty, technical merit, relevance to the financial sector, feasibility, potential impact and translational/commercial potential. Approximately 10–12 shortlisted teams are invited to the offline Grand Finale.
What are the awards?
First Award ₹3,00,000; Second Award ₹2,00,000; Third Award ₹1,00,000 — a total of ₹6,00,000. Winners also receive recognition and visibility through the GIFT FutureLab platform, with efforts to facilitate interactions with banks, financial institutions, fintech companies and other ecosystem partners.
Is there any application fee?
The application and preliminary evaluation process is conducted online. Fee details, if any, will be confirmed in the final guidelines.
What are the team size and faculty participation rules?
Details of team size and faculty participation will be shared in the final eligibility guidelines.
Where and when is the Grand Finale?
The offline Grand Finale will be held at IIT Gandhinagar on 22 December 2026, bringing together finalists, jury members and invited stakeholders for presentation, demonstration and interaction.
Organising & Supported By
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