ICT Award 2026 nominations open, 16 categories announced including international awards

KATHMANDU: The online nomination (application) for the 11th edition of the ICT Award, widely recognized as a prestigious award in the information and communication technology sector, has opened from Shrawan 1.

The nomination, which has been opened in 16 award categories, also includes some provincial levels as well as international awards covering South Asian countries.

The nomination for the ICT Award, organized by Living with ICT, has been starting every year from Shrawan 1stsince its beginning in 2016. With the Grand Finale event to be held in the first week of Poush, this award, which is expected to witness the participation of more than 1,500 people from national and international levels, is recognized as Nepal’s largest and most prestigious award.

This award includes startups, innovations, and products from the technology sector, along with digital transformation efforts of government and private institutions. Likewise, this award also honors individuals based on their contribution to the nation through the information and communication technology sector.
For the past three years, the ‘South Asia Startup ICT Award’ has also been operating with a focus on South Asian countries, and from this year, the AI Innovation South Asia ICT Award has also been launched. The ICT Award has also maintained collaboration with prestigious international awards such as the World Summit Awards and the APICTA Awards.

Along with online nominations, before the Grand Finale event, which is organized after six months of special preparation, more than 25 selection rounds, television shows, startup fests, and dozens of pre-events will be held across all categories. To select the best among the 16 award categories, 20 expert jury members from national and international levels will be involved, and an advisory committee comprising more than 15 respected individuals from the government and private sectors will be formed.

The award categories include, under Category A, the Startup ICT Award, Product ICT Award, Rising Star Innovation ICT Award, and Social Innovation ICT Award. In these categories, the competitors themselves must register the application.

Under Category B, the awards are selected on the basis of contributions made to society and the nation through technology. This category includes the Pioneer ICT Award, Professional Excellence ICT Award, Professional Excellence ICT Award (Woman), Entrepreneur ICT Award, and Nepali Diaspora ICT Award. In these categories, the nomination can be registered either by the individuals themselves or by anyone else by providing personal details.

Similarly, under Category C, nominations will be taken on the basis of digital transformation, use of innovative technology, and related efforts made by government and private institutions. This includes the Digital Governance ICT Award, Digital Education ICT Award (Public Sector), Digital Education ICT Award (Private Sector), Digital Services ICT Award (Enterprise Sector), and Digital Services ICT Award (Emerging Sector).

Likewise, under Category D, startups and AI companies from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Afghanistan can apply for the South Asia Startup ICT Award and the South Asia AI Innovation ICT Award.

Online applications for all these award categories have opened from today. Nominations can be registered through the official website of the award, www.ictaward.org, said Razan Lamsal, Chairperson of the organizing committee. The nomination period will remain open until 31st August.

Award categories and application process for the ICT Award
With online nominations open in 16 categories for the ICT Award 2026, applications can be submitted free of cost. These are the 16 award categories under ICT, divided into 4 different fields.
A. Categories related to startups and innovation:

1. Startup ICT Award 2026
   The Startup ICT Award is a competitive award among startup companies working in the fields of IT products, services, and innovation. This award is presented to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. Technology-focused startup companies that are within five years of their company registration date can participate in this award.
2. Product ICT Award 2026
   The Product ICT Award is a competitive award for technology-based software, hardware, applications, and other digital products launched within the last two years. Any IT, innovative, and AI-based product developed by a Nepali company, institution, group, or individual can be registered for nomination.
3. Rising Star Innovation ICT Award 2026
   The Rising Star Innovation ICT Award is a competitive award among tech products, industry projects, research, AI innovations, and prototype-based ideas developed by students and youth under the age of 27 studying in schools, colleges, and universities. A company registration is not required for this award. Participants may register nominations individually or as a group of up to four members, representing their innovation.
4. Social Innovation ICT Award 2026
   The Social Innovation ICT Award is a category that honors outstanding innovations that address social or environmental challenges through the effective use of information and communication technology. This category includes innovative products, services, processes, or systems developed primarily using technology, which have made effective contributions through successful implementation in various sectors such as health, education, agriculture, tourism, climate change, governance, and social inclusion. Innovations developed and used for up to five years in collaboration with government institutions, development partners, and social organizations will be included in this category.
   B. Categories of individual honors based on contribution:
5. Pioneer ICT Award 2026
   This award is given to senior individuals who have made distinguished, long-term, and inspirational contributions in the field of information and communication technology. Individuals with at least 20 years or more of contribution and work experience in this field, either themselves or through recommendation by anyone else, can register a nomination.
6. Professional Excellence ICT Award 2026
   The Professional Excellence ICT Award is a category targeted at IT professionals working in the field of information and communication technology. This award honors eligible IT professionals on the basis of at least 5 years of professional experience, contribution in various tech domains, expertise, leadership, and notable work. Eligible IT professionals may register nominations themselves or through recommendation by anyone else.
7. Professional Excellence ICT Award 2026 (Woman)
   The Professional Excellence ICT Award (Woman) is a category targeted for Nepali women active in the field of information and communication technology. Women who are IT entrepreneurs, leaders, professionals, and those who have made exemplary contributions in the technology sector can register nominations for this award. Women with at least 5 years of professional experience may register nominations themselves or through recommendation by anyone else.
8. Nepali Diaspora ICT Award 2026
   This award is given to Nepali-origin individuals living abroad who have made remarkable contributions to Nepal’s digital ecosystem, society, and national development through information and communication technology. Diaspora individuals living abroad with at least 5 years of work experience may register nominations themselves or through recommendation by anyone else.
9. Entrepreneur ICT Award 2026
   The Entrepreneur ICT Award is a category presented to active Nepali IT entrepreneurs in the field of information and communication technology. Job creation and business growth, along with contributions to the nation through technology, are the main criteria of this category. IT entrepreneurs with at least 10 years of business experience may register nominations themselves or through recommendation by others.
   C. Awards related to technology-friendly institutions and services
10. Digital Governance ICT Award 2026
    In this category, government institutions, authorities, departments, bodies, and local levels that are making efforts toward technological transformation and are making public services and facilities more effective, easy, simple, citizen-friendly, and technology-friendly through digital technology can register nominations.
11. Digital Education ICT Award 2026 (Public Sector)
    The Digital Education ICT Award (Public Sector) is targeted at government and community educational institutions that have made remarkable contributions in making teaching, learning, and educational management modern, technology-friendly, and high quality through the effective use of information and communication technology. Eligible educational institutions can register nominations in this category.
12. Digital Education ICT Award 2026 (Private Sector)
    The Digital Education ICT Award (Private Sector) is targeted at private educational institutions that have made exemplary contributions in making teaching, learning, and educational management modern, technology-friendly, and high quality through the effective use of information and communication technology. Eligible institutions can register nominations in this category.
13. Digital Services ICT Award 2026 (Enterprise Sector)
    In this category, private sector corporate institutions, limited companies, and other business organizations can register nominations based on the technology-friendly services they provide to the general public. Companies, banks and financial institutions, hospitals and health institutions, insurance companies, corporate institutions, and other service providers that have modernized their traditional service systems through digital technology to make service delivery more effective will be eligible for this award.
14. Digital Services ICT Award 2026 (Emerging Sector)
    This award is given to institutions that develop innovative, scalable, and effective digital services or solutions using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, blockchain, IoT, robotics, and other emerging technologies. In this category, special priority will be given to technological innovation, market impact, and growth potential. Startups and technology and digital-platform-based companies legally registered in Nepal and having launched a digital product or service within the last 5 years can register nominations.
    D. International award categories
15. South Asia Startup ICT Award 2026
    In this category, startups from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in South Asia can participate. Tech startups within five years of their company registration date will be eligible to register nominations in this category.
16. South Asia AI Innovation ICT Award 2026
    The South Asia Solutions ICT Award 2026 is an international award that honors outstanding products and solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI) developed from South Asian countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This award aims to encourage AI innovation and promote technological cooperation and excellence among South Asian countries.
    In addition to this, through the Province Startup ICT Recognition 2026, one outstanding technology startup from each of the seven provinces is also honored. Nominations are open for all these awards and honors, and anyone may apply within the nomination period.