As India continues to build one of the world’s largest digital public infrastructures, public procurement is increasingly emerging as a powerful tool for driving innovation, entrepreneurship and economic inclusion. The Government e-Marketplace (GeM), the country’s flagship digital procurement platform, is now taking another significant step in that direction.
In a move aimed at strengthening institutional capabilities and creating greater opportunities for startups and innovators, GeM has signed two strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the National Institute for Smart Government (NISG) and Talent, Ideas, Capital & Entrepreneurship (TICE).
The collaborations reflect GeM’s broader vision of building a procurement ecosystem that is not only more efficient and transparent, but also more inclusive, innovation-led and future-ready.
Bringing Governance Expertise and Startup Innovation Together
Public procurement has traditionally been viewed as a complex and often inaccessible space, especially for young startups and emerging entrepreneurs. However, with digital platforms like GeM transforming the way government purchases goods and services, there is growing recognition that procurement can become a catalyst for innovation and startup growth.
The newly signed partnerships seek to address both sides of the equation — strengthening institutional capabilities within the procurement ecosystem while simultaneously enabling greater participation from India’s startup community.
By bringing together NISG’s extensive experience in digital governance, public sector capacity building and research, alongside TICE’s strong network within the startup ecosystem, GeM aims to create a procurement framework that is more capable, accessible and innovation-driven.
Focus on Capacity Building and Procurement Modernisation
Under its partnership with NISG, GeM will work on a range of initiatives designed to enhance institutional capacity and support the modernisation of public procurement processes.
The collaboration will focus on developing structured training programmes, certification frameworks and standardised learning content that can help stakeholders better understand and navigate the evolving procurement landscape.
In addition, the partnership will support research initiatives and stakeholder engagement programmes, creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing and policy discussions around procurement best practices and digital governance.
The move is expected to contribute significantly to strengthening procurement competencies across institutions while supporting GeM’s long-term vision of creating a more robust and efficient public procurement ecosystem.
Creating More Opportunities for Startups
While institutional strengthening remains a key objective, the partnership with TICE places a strong emphasis on expanding opportunities for startups and innovators.
As a DPIIT-recognised startup platform, TICE has built deep connections within India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through this collaboration, GeM will work towards improving procurement readiness among startups, helping founders better understand how to engage with government buyers and navigate procurement processes.
The partnership also seeks to accelerate startup runway utilisation by creating pathways for young companies to access government demand more effectively. Increased participation in public procurement can provide startups with not only revenue opportunities but also credibility and scale, often serving as a stepping stone for broader market expansion.
For many early-stage ventures, securing government contracts can be transformative, enabling them to validate solutions, build track records and accelerate growth. The GeM-TICE collaboration aims to make these opportunities more accessible to a wider pool of entrepreneurs and innovators across the country.
Formalising the Partnerships
The MoUs were formally signed by Shri Satya Narayan Meena, Additional Chief Executive Officer (ACEO), GeM.
Representing the partner organisations, the agreements were signed with Mr Srinath Chakravarthy, Senior Vice President, NISG, and Dr Seema N., Program Director, TICE.
The signings mark the beginning of a collaborative effort focused on strengthening procurement capabilities, encouraging innovation and widening participation in government procurement programmes.
Building a Future-Ready Procurement Ecosystem
The latest partnerships underline GeM’s evolving role beyond being a procurement platform. Increasingly, the marketplace is positioning itself as an enabler of innovation, entrepreneurship and institutional excellence.
By combining capacity-building initiatives with startup-focused interventions, the collaborations aim to create a more inclusive procurement environment where government buyers, institutions, startups and innovators can participate more effectively.
As India continues to deepen its digital governance framework and strengthen support for entrepreneurship, initiatives such as these are expected to play an important role in connecting public sector demand with private sector innovation.
With the partnerships now in place, GeM, NISG and TICE are set to work together towards a common goal: building a more capable, inclusive and future-ready public procurement ecosystem that can support the next phase of India’s innovation and startup growth story.
