National Innovation Center Nepal

What National Innovation Center Nepal does

National Innovation Center Nepal (legally Rashtriya Awishwar Kendra / Rastriya Awiskar Kendra) is a non-profit sharing organization established in 2012 inside Tribhuvan University's Kirtipur campus in Kathmandu by Ramon Magsaysay laureate Mahabir Pun. It operates as an innovation platform serving Nepalese innovators, government and community hospitals, farmers, bus operators, and rural aviation authorities across multiple provinces, with COL. Sanjay Jha (Retd) as General Manager.

The organization's core activities span in-house R&D and an open-innovation platform. It has built 20+ projects grouped around healthcare (the Nyano Nani infant radiant warmer designed and manufactured in Nepal, an OpenMRS/Bahmni-based Electronic Health Record system with tele-medicine, oxygen mini-plant retrofits, Pneumask and PAPR developed with Stanford's Prakash Lab, New Gen Mask, and a COVID-19 equipment program covering PPE, ventilators and repairs), software and IT (computer-vision blindspot detection for heavy vehicles, OkayJourney bus ticketing, an electronic billing system, and Everestkart e-commerce), agriculture (Black Soldier Fly bioconversion, solar water heaters with black-nickel coating, Khuwa, paper-plate, coffee-roasting, pellet, and millet-dehusking machines, Sabji Kothi storage, grass cutter, excavator attachment), and aviation/energy infrastructure (weather cameras for CAAN on Pokhara-Jomsom, Kathmandu-Lukla routes and a RECAST wind-turbine restoration). The digital health stack is built on open-source components OpenMRS, OpenELIS, DCM4CHEE and ODOO, while cloud infrastructure is anchored by DataHub's YetiCloud. Regional ICT & Electronics Innovation Labs in Pokhara and Dang extend the central Kirtipur hub.

The business model is hybrid and predominantly donation-driven. NIC is registered as a not-for-profit sharing company under the Nepal Company Act 2006 and has historically been funded by individual donors and grants — including a Rs 16 million founding grant from Professor Flemming Topsøe and roughly NPR 57.8 million in COVID-19-linked donations (NPR 50.3M from Nepalese banks plus NPR 7.6M from USA supporters). Commercial revenue is generated through hardware sales (e.g., 12 Khuwa Making Machines in six months), CSR-funded installations of medical devices (Nyano Nani via Jyoti Bikash Bank), transaction fees from the OkayJourney ticketing spin-off, and contract work such as weather-camera deployment for the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Forward plans include a 10-15 MW hydropower station, mineral water and beverage brands, and a software spin-off, all intended to create a self-sustaining financial base for what is otherwise a mission-driven R&D platform.

Name

National Innovation Center Nepal

Legal name

Rashtriya Awishkar Kendra

Website

https://nicnepal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

National Innovation Center Nepal is a non-profit innovation center inside Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, that designs locally-made healthcare, agriculture, and aviation technology solutions and supports young Nepalese innovators through incubation, partnerships, and CSR-backed product deployment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation and R&D Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Health, Health Information Systems & Data Programs (BPADAIAJ), Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL), Data, Surveillance & Digital Public Goods Partnerships for Global Health (HLAJAOAN)

Keywords

• Biomedical device innovation
• Agricultural technology research
• Open-source health IT
• Neonatal care equipment
• Innovation incubation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kathmandu

HQ country

Nepal

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: NIC receives donations from individuals and organizations domestically and internationally. Received grants from Professor Flemming Topsøe (Rs 16 million) and funding from various donors. COVID response received donations totaling over NPR 50 million from banks and international supporters.
2. Planned Hydropower Revenue: NIC plans to register a hydropower company and develop a 10-15 MW hydropower station. Estimated net income of US$3-4 million annually from selling power to government. Initial years 75% of income goes to loan repayment, 25% to operations.
3. OkayJourney Bus Ticketing: First spin-off company from NIC providing online bus ticketing services, OkayTube device for buses, and bus rental/tour services. Registered 90,000 trips with 60,000 customers.
4. Khuwa Making Machine Sales: NIC developed and sells Khuwa Making Machines - 12 units sold in six months. Automated dairy product machine processing up to 120 liters per batch.
5. Planned Revenue Streams: NIC plans to generate income through export quality mineral water from Himalayan springs, soft drinks from ginger and Himalayan herbs, power from solar and bio-gas, and a software company.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

National Innovation Center Nepal (Rashtriya Awishkar Kendra) is a nonprofit innovation hub that develops, manufactures, and deploys locally-designed solutions in healthcare devices, agricultural machinery, digital health platforms, and software/IT systems. It functions as an R&D center and business incubator, transforming innovative ideas into commercialized products such as the Nyano Nani infant warmer, Oxygen Mini Plant, Black Soldier Fly bioconversion systems, OkayJourney bus ticketing platform, and OpenMRS-based Electronic Health Record systems for hospitals across Nepal.

Product overview

National Innovation Center Nepal (NIC) operates as a nonprofit innovation hub within Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, established in 2012. The organization functions as a platform-plus-projects model, supporting innovators with funding, mentorship, and infrastructure. The product portfolio spans multiple verticals: Healthcare (Nyano Nani infant warmer, Digital Health EHR system using OpenMRS, Oxygen Mini Plant, Pneumask/PAPR, New Gen Mask); Software & IT (Blindspot Detection, Electronic Billing System, Okay Journey bus ticketing, Everestkart e-commerce); Agriculture (Black Soldier Fly technology, Solar Water Heater, Sabji Kothi, various processing machines for coffee, millet, pellets, khuwa, paper plates); and Aviation/Energy infrastructure (Weather Cameras, Wind Turbine). NIC's Digital Health platform is built on open-source technologies including OpenMRS, OpenELIS, ODOO, and DCM4CHEE. The organization also provides cloud infrastructure support through DataHub's YetiCloud platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nyano Nani Baby Warmer Locally-made infant radiant warmer designed and built in Nepal to prevent neonatal hypothermia in rural birthing centers. Features auto temperature control (36-38.5°C), 650W heater output, and 90° swivel heater cabinet for X-ray procedures.
• Digital Health EHR System Tele-medicine and Electronic Health Recording system using the OpenMRS open-source platform, enabling hospitals in resource-constrained settings to manage patient information, telemedicine, and longitudinal care.
• Electronic Billing System Affordable portable billing system for small restaurants built on a PHP web application with Java-based print API running on Raspberry Pi with thermal printer hardware.
• Blindspot Detection System Computer vision-based system for heavy vehicles (tippers/trucks) that uses cameras and dashboard display to detect vehicles in blind spots and reduce road accidents involving vulnerable road users.
• OkayJourney Bus Ticketing Platform Online bus ticketing platform and Android application connecting passengers with 500+ bus operators across Nepal cities including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lumbini, Butwal, and Dharan. Includes OkayTube device for bus security, tracking, and entertainment.
• Black Soldier Fly Technology Organic waste bioconversion system using Black Soldier Fly larvae that produces protein ingredient for animal feed and high-quality fertilizer from organic waste in 10 days. Includes customized BSF farm designs with training and consulting support.
• Solar Water Heater with Black Nickel Selective Coating Solar thermal collector with black nickel selective coating designed for mountain regions, showing 20% higher efficiency than conventional black paint-based systems. Commercial-sized product at 4.5ft x 4ft x 0.4ft weighing 15kg.
• Weather Cameras for Aviation Safety Real-time weather monitoring camera system providing visual updates about cloud positioning and weather conditions on Nepal's Himalayan aviation routes. Installed at Mohare Danda, Pokhara-Jomsom, and Kathmandu-Lukla routes under CAAN mandate.
• Oxygen Mini Plant Oxygen generation system that retrofits 10 Lpm and 5 Lpm oxygen concentrators with a medical gas pipeline system, capable of delivering 65 Lpm oxygen to up to 13 patients.
• Pneumask and PAPR Systems Reusable PPE using snorkel masks with 99.97% viral filtration (Pneumask) and Powered Air-Purifying Respirator with dual airflow modes, developed in collaboration with Stanford's Prakash Lab.
• Khuwa Making Machine Automated dairy product machine using LPG-based heating and continuous stirring, processing up to 120 liters of milk per batch for khuwa (traditional dairy concentrate) production.
• Everestkart E-commerce Platform E-commerce platform operated by NIC, enabling online retail services for the Nepal market.
• Coffee Roasting Machine Modern coffee roasting machine with temperature control sensors designed for small to medium batch processing. Developed by Rajesh Limbu, Dajangu Sherpa, and Am Bahadur Roka at NIC.
• Pellet Making Machine Poultry feed pellet-making machine with feeder, grinder, mixer, and pellet mill components. Developed by Kiran Gurung at NIC to reduce poultry farmers' reliance on costly feed imports.
• Millet Dehusking Machine Machine for removing outer husk from millet grains with integrated cleaning, drying, dehusking, and optional polishing steps. Developed by Dajangbu Sherpa at NIC.
• Paper Plate Making Machine (Duna Tapari) Hydraulic pressure machine for manufacturing Nepal's traditional Duna and Tapari leaf plates from sal tree leaves. Created by Raju Thapa and Santa Bahadur BK.
• RECAST Wind Turbine Restoration Wind-based water pumping system restored at Tribhuvan University after 15 years of inactivity, providing zero-energy water supply capability for the campus.

Quantifiable outcome

• Out of 1000 live births in Nepal, 22-35 do not survive - Nyano Nani addresses neonatal hypothermia prevention
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered emerging, core, supporting and major.

• Growing Dome in the Clouds FoundationemergingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2025Collaboration for geodesic growing domes for remote community agriculture in Nepal. First 14m solar dome being designed for Sir Edmund Hillary School in Khumjung Village, Solukhumbu.
• King's College NepalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2023MoU signed to facilitate each other in entrepreneurship, innovation, and product development. Joint workshops, market research, business strategies, marketing, and product development initiatives.
• DataHubsupportingTechnology or Integration · 4 March 2022DataHub provides YetiCloud (Nepal's First Platform-as-a-Service) support to NIC. Supports Medical Drone Management software and provides compute infrastructure, co-location, storage, and networking services.
• Gradian Health SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2021Partnership to strengthen critical care services at nine hospitals across Nepal starting with distribution of 50 Comprehensive Care Ventilators (CCVs). Gradian provides high-quality medical technology, NIC handles ventilator installations, biomedical training, and ongoing technical support.
• America Nepal Medical Foundation (ANMF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2021Clinical partner providing physician training for critical care ventilation. ANMF members specialize in critical care medicine and fund comprehensive product and clinical refresher training to physicians and nurses.
• Jyoti Bikash Bank LimitedcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 April 2021CSR partnership for Nyano Nani baby warmers. Bank procured 10 units for rural health facilities, provided installation and training. Later installed 5 more units in Karnali region (2024).
• British Council / Crafting Futures ProgrammemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Road to COP26 Innovation Grant Programme partnership between Kathmandu University, Applied Arts Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University, and NIC to support sustainable business ideas in craft sectors.
• Tribhuvan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012TU provided land for establishing NIC at Kirtipur campus. Central university of Nepal hosting the innovation center.
• Prakash Lab at Stanford UniversitycoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on Pneumask project, PAPR development, ventilators, fabric-producing machines for masks, and UVC disinfection chambers. Prof. Manu Prakash provided Pneumask kits and open-source ventilator designs.
• TU Delft UniversitymajorTechnology or IntegrationTechnical collaboration on emergency ventilators, masks, and UVC disinfection chamber. Provided engineering diagrams and guidance for ventilator development.
• Nepal Biomedical AssociationsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated to create team of volunteer biomedical engineers to repair ventilators and medical equipment at various hospitals.
• Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCAAN tasked NIC with implementing weather camera system across Nepal's aviation routes. First installation at Mohare Danda for Pokhara-Jomsom route, now expanded to Kathmandu-Lukla and other routes.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Protix: Industrial-scale Black Soldier Fly protein producer. NIC's BSF technology competes in the same waste-to-feed value chain but at a pilot/consulting scale, making Protix a relevant emerging-market competitor.

Direct peers

• The/Nudge Foundation: India-based non-profit incubator and skilling organization supporting entrepreneurs from under-resourced backgrounds. Mirrors NIC's mission to use innovation and incubation as a development lever.
• SELCO Foundation: India-based non-profit that develops and field-tests decentralized energy and livelihood solutions for underserved communities. Operates as a similar innovation-and-deployment hub for frugal technology in South Asia.
• Bahmni (OpenMRS Community / ThoughtWorks): Open-source hospital information system built on OpenMRS that NIC implements at scale. Shares the same digital-health-for-low-resource-settings mission and Bahmni codebase across 400+ deployments.
• Gradian Health Systems: Distributes Comprehensive Care Ventilators across nine Nepali hospitals in partnership with NIC. Targets the same low-resource anesthesia/critical-care market with engineering-and-training model.
• Young Innovations Pvt Ltd (YI-Nepal): Nepali startup studio building ventures across agriculture, healthcare, and energy. Closest domestic competitor in the 'innovation-hub-that-spins-out-companies' category that NIC pioneered.

Broad incumbents

• cKinetics / TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute): India-based sustainability and clean-energy research institute that develops and deploys low-cost technologies (solar thermal, waste management). Comparable to NIC's agriculture and renewable-energy verticals at a much larger scale.
• MIT D-Lab: Academic innovation and inclusive-technology program at MIT that collaborates with international partners on frugal technology. Shares NIC's 'technology for development' framework and academic-collaboration model.
• infoDev / World Bank Climate Technology Program: World Bank-managed program funding technology innovation hubs in developing countries (including Nepal) for agriculture, health, and energy. NIC sits within infoDev's broader ecosystem and competes for similar grant capital.

Regional players

• Makerere University Innovation Centre (ResilientAfrica): University-anchored innovation hub in Uganda that incubates community-driven solutions in health, agriculture, and energy. Closest African analogue to NIC's Tribhuvan University-anchored model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nicnepal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Innovation Center Nepal