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Ahmedabad turns civic systems into start-up lab for urban fixes
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation launched the Ahmedabad Innovation and Startup Policy 2026 to turn the city’s civic infrastructure into a living laboratory for startups, with an annual fund for pilots and relaxed procurement norms. The policy marks a shift from traditional tender-driven procurement to a collaborative model with startups to test and scale local solutions across BRTS corridors, CCTV networks, and utilities.
Why It Matters
If scalable, this approach could redefine urban innovation in Indian cities by enabling rapid piloting, data sharing, and co-creation with startups to improve city services and resilience.
Timeline
2 Events
Ahmedabad Innovation and Startup Policy 2026 launched
April 2026
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation launched the Ahmedabad Innovation and Startup Policy 2026 to convert the city’s civic infrastructure—including Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridors, CCTV networks, and utility systems—into a living laboratory for startups. The policy allocates up to ₹50 crore annually to fund pilot projects and relaxes traditional tender requirements, including exemptions from prior experience and minimum turnover, with a Right of First Refusal (ROFR) for successful pilots. The aim is to shift from a buyer role to a co-creator role, enabling startups to test, refine, and scale solutions on city infrastructure.
Public procurement reforms highlighted as enabling a startup-friendly framework
2025
A 2025 analysis by Primus Partners noted that stringent eligibility criteria in public procurement—such as high minimum turnover and prior government experience—limit MSME and startup participation, hindering local, highly contextual solutions. The analysis underscored the need for procurement reforms to foster experimentation and innovation in cities.