GJEPC launches India’s first jewellery innovation challenge

Mumbai | Maharashtra —  The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), India’s apex trade body for the sector, in collaboration with SINE, IIT Bombay, announced the launch of the first ever JewelStart Industry Innovation Challenge — a national programme designed to identify and fast-track innovation and technology startups transforming one of India’s most storied export industries. Applications opened on 25 May 2026, with the final cohort announcement expected in August 2026 following a structured five-stage evaluation process.

The challenge invites startups, innovators and technology solution providers to address pressing industry needs across the jewellery value chain, spanning manufacturing, retail, supply chain, sustainability, automation, traceability, design and digital transformation.

Kirit Bhansali, Chairman, GJEPC, said, “India’s gems and jewellery industry has always been built on craftsmanship and global trust. Today, we must focus our efforts on innovation and technology. The JewelStart Industry Innovation Challenge is our commitment to ensuring that the next wave of growth for this sector is innovation-led. We are not just looking for solutions — we are building a long-term pipeline of startups that will define the future of jewellery manufacturing, design, and commerce in India and the world.”

GJEPC has identified eight high-priority problem statements across the industry’s value chain where startup innovation can deliver measurable impact:

1. Smart Factory Monitoring — Real-time visibility into machines and production for reduced downtime and improved efficiency
2. Precious Metal Inventory & Capital Optimisation — AI-driven inventory intelligence to reduce working capital lock-up and material losses
3. Smart Automation — Advanced automation for stone setting, polishing, and finishing to improve consistency and throughput
4. Sustainable Manufacturing — Eco-friendly chemical alternatives, waste treatment systems, and precious metal recovery solutions
5. Affordable Jewellery Prototyping — Affordable design-to-prototype solutions that cut development timelines and costs
6. AI-Powered Quality Control — Intelligent defect detection and inspection at every stage of the manufacturing lifecycle
7. AI for 2D-to-3D CAD Conversion — Automated conversion of sketches and reference images into production-ready CAD models
8. Generative AI for Jewellery Design — AI-enabled platforms that generate multiple design variations based on trends, styles, and references

Shaunak Parikh, Vice Chairman, GJEPC, said, “The gems and jewellery industry contributes enormously to India’s export economy, yet when it comes to technology adoption, we have barely scratched the surface. This challenge is about changing that reality. By connecting motivated startups with real industry problems and real industry stakeholders, we create the conditions for solutions that actually get adopted and scaled. This is how we take Indian jewellery manufacturing to the global frontier — not just in craft, but in capability.” 

The JewelStart Industry Innovation Challenge runs across five structured phases. The national call for applications opened on 25 May 2026. Shortlisting and screening will follow through 22 June, after which a virtual evaluation round with an expert jury is scheduled for 20 July. Shortlisted teams will then present at a Physical Industry Showcase in August 2026, with the final cohort announcement made shortly thereafter.

The programme is open to registered Indian startups at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 and above, with at least one full-time founder who is an Indian citizen. Critically, the challenge is not restricted to companies already operating in the jewellery space — startups from adjacent domains such as AI, IoT, robotics, sustainability technology, fintech, and logistics are explicitly encouraged to apply if their solutions can be adapted to the sector’s needs. There is no application fee.

Sabyasachi Ray, Executive Director, GJEPC said, ““JewelStart was built on a simple belief: that the challenges facing our industry are solvable, and that the solutions will come from entrepreneurs who see them differently. This Innovation Challenge gives those entrepreneurs a direct path into the industry — real access to manufacturers, real pilot opportunities, and real conversations with investors who understand this space. We are not just running a competition. We are building the next generation of companies that will power Indian jewellery.”

Startups accepted into the cohort will receive mentorship from domain experts and industry professionals, direct introductions to manufacturers, exporters, and retailers across GJEPC’s 10,000-plus member network, and access to SINE IIT Bombay’s incubation infrastructure and ecosystem. The programme also facilitates pilot collaborations with industry partners, providing the real-world validation that investors and customers require. Funding support is available for qualifying startups, with connections to relevant investors and funding bodies based on the specific problem statement, stage, and evaluation outcomes.

The initiative marks a decisive shift in how India’s gems and jewellery sector — a multi-billion-dollar contributor to the country’s merchandise exports — intends to engage with the startup ecosystem. Rather than waiting for technology to trickle in, GJEPC is proactively defining the problems, inviting innovators to solve them, and backing the most promising ventures with mentorship, industry access, pilot opportunities, and connections to potential funding — all in service of JewelStart’s defining mission: “To make India the JEWELLER TO THE WORLD.”