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Hindu Kush Himalaya Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs (HKH-ICE) is Now Open!
HKH-ICE seeks to empower entrepreneurs from Bhutan, Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts only), India (Himalayan states only), and Nepal to develop innovative, climate-resilient solutions in the agriculture, water security, and sustainable tourism sectors.
Nepal
The Green Intelligence Nepal
The Green Intelligence Nepal combats land degradation and climate challenges through agroforestry,using an innovative mobile app that connects farmers to global carbon markets. This approach generates additional revenue streams, encourages sustainable forest management, and enhances community resilience.
Bhutan
Mangala Herbeceuticals
Mangala Herbeceuticals promotes the sustainable harvesting and bioprospecting of cordyceps, a high-value medicinal fungus. The project protects ecological balance by implementing responsible harvesting practices while boosting local livelihoods through value-added processing and product innovation.
India (Ladakh)
Acres of Ice
Acres of Ice combines traditional ice reservoir methods with modern automation technology, addressing severe water scarcity challenges in Ladakh. The solution improves agricultural productivity, reduces community labour, and strengthens climate resilience.
India (Nagaland)
Jome Foods
Jome Foods introduces scientifically designed bee boxes to enhance honey production, increase income for indigenous tribal communities, and promote ecological sustainability. The project also provides training and market access, empowering farmers economically and environmentally.
Himalayan Ecotourism
Himalayan Ecotourism develops sustainable, community-driven tourism models in Ladakh to preserve cultural heritage, reduce migration, and maintain ecological balance. Their inclusive approach benefits local communities and conserves delicate mountain ecosystems.
Khaalisisi Management
Khaalisisi Management supports women entrepreneurs through plastic waste recycling and upcycling in Nepal’s Everest region. Rather than collecting waste to dispose of in landfills, the project will recycle and upcycle waste into souvenirs, trekking gear, and packaging materials, targeting the local tourism market.
Build Up Nepal Engineering Pvt Ltd
Build Up Nepal Engineering empowers local entrepreneurs to construct earthquake-resistant homes using eco-friendly interlocking bricks. This innovation creates jobs, reduces CO2 emissions significantly, and improves infrastructure resilience to climate and disaster impacts.
India (Uttarakhand)
DESCAT UK
DESCAT UK revitalises degraded lands by cultivating Himalayan grass, transforming it into sustainable fibres for the textile industry. The project enhances soil health, provides stable employment opportunities, and promotes sustainable economic growth.
KumaonKhand Agro-Innovations
KumaonKhand creates inclusive economic opportunities through a clean hemp value chain. It builds the resilience of farmers and weavers in the Kumaon region by strengthening traditional hemp cultivation and weaving practices, and by linking hemp produce as inputs to green infrastructure.
Kingdom Essences
Kingdom Essences implements sustainable wild-harvesting techniques to produce essential oils from non-timber forest produce that prevent overexploitation, support habitat conservation, and encourage the regeneration of native plant species.
Bangladesh
Shiblee Farms
Shiblee Farms addresses soil erosion and farmland scarcity through innovative grow-bag farming methods. This solution enables farmers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts to increase vegetable yields sustainably without disturbing fragile soil ecosystems, significantly improving local incomes and community resilience.
Ilami Agro and Tech Pvt. Ltd.
Ilami Agro and Tech develops region-specific microbial consortia tailored to Nepal’s unique agro-climatic conditions. Their innovative bio-fertiliser restores soil fertility, enhances crop productivity, and promotes sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture practices.
The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, known as the “Third Pole,” sustains life for over 240 million people in the mountains and 1.65 billion downstream. With its rich biodiversity and vital ecosystems, the region is home to the world’s largest ice reserves outside of the polar regions and supports Asia’s major food-producing river systems. However, the region faces severe challenges, including climate change, ecosystem degradation, and water scarcity, which threaten its agricultural systems, tourism, and overall resilience. There is a significant gap in climate finance to address these issues, and local entrepreneurs lack the resources needed to drive green and resilient innovations.
In response to these challenges, GRP and ICIMOD have come together to launch the Hindu Kush Himalaya Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs (HKH-ICE). This initiative, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is designed to mobilise local innovation and entrepreneurship, driving scalable solutions that address ecological, market, and value chain challenges across the region.
HKH-ICE seeks to empower entrepreneurs from Bhutan, Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts only), India (Himalayan states only), and Nepal to develop innovative, climate-resilient solutions in the agriculture, water security, and sustainable tourism sectors. The challenge will support initiatives that leverage the region’s untapped potential for sustainable economic growth and environmental conservation while addressing the urgent need for climate adaptation and resilience.
We are looking for innovative, scalable solutions that enhance resilience for communities and ecosystems across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. Initiatives can focus on:
HKH-ICE is open to for-profit organisations, local entrepreneurs and innovators from Bhutan, Bangladesh (Chittagong Hill Tracts), India (Himalayan states), and Nepal.
Winners will receive tailored mentoring, leadership development, communications, and resource mobilisation support. Additionally, they will receive prizes ranging from USD 5,000 to 25,000 to further develop and scale their solutions. Shortlisted applicants will also benefit from a leadership academy and capacity-strengthening initiatives with regional and global experts.
Guideline for applicants Application form
Please email any questions to challenge@globalresiliencepartnership.org.
