Trust Valley launches the GovTech Innovation Challenge with World Bank and SECO

Trust Valley, in collaboration with the World Bank and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), has launched the GovTech Innovation Challenge.

Trust Valley, in partnership with the World Bank and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), has launched the GovTech Innovation Challenge, a new international pilot programme aimed at advancing digital transformation in the public sector.

Open to start-ups and SMEs with fewer than 75 employees and under USD 5 million in annual revenue, the challenge focuses on two pressing issues in tax administration: the identification and registration of informal sector income, and VAT compliance in e-commerce. Applicants are invited to submit proposals that respond to one or both topics before the deadline of 12 September 2025.

Three selected companies will collaborate directly with the Ghana Revenue Authority to develop functional Proofs of Concept. As part of the programme, teams will attend a four-day bootcamp in Switzerland’s Trust Valley ecosystem (11–14 November), receive expert mentorship, and present their solutions at a final event in Geneva on 2 December 2025.

Beyond technical development, the programme offers a secure space to test and refine innovations in a real-world context, aligning private sector agility with public sector needs. Information sessions with Ghana Revenue Authority officials will take place between 18 August and 12 September to provide additional insights to applicants.

This initiative expands Trust Valley’s commitment to building bridges between technology and governance. Previous programmes, such as Tech4Trust, have established Western Switzerland as a hub for innovation in digital trust and public-private collaboration.

By launching this pilot in partnership with global institutions, Trust Valley further reinforces its role as a strategic platform for international digital governance and scalable innovation with public impact.