The event opened with a traditional Chibdrel and Marchang ceremony, setting the tone for a day filled with transformative discussions on innovation, sustainability, and leadership.
The opening announcements were made by BBC News presenters Mark Lobel and Samantha Simmonds, followed by a keynote address by Bhutan’s Hon’ble Prime Minister, H.E. Tshering Tobgay, who expressed deep gratitude to His Majesty the King of Bhutan for leading this pioneering event. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of innovation in shaping Bhutan’s future, highlighting key national initiatives like the Dungkar Dzong, Bhutan Baccalaureate, and the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC). He urged participants to explore these themes, encouraging global collaboration in applying insights to their own communities.
1. Innovation for Bhutan’s Future: Discussions throughout the day underscored that innovation is pivotal to Bhutan’s future, touching on everything from urban development to education and workforce transformation.
2. Mindfulness and Compassion: Mindfulness, deeply embedded in Bhutanese culture, was presented as a tool to address global challenges like poverty, climate change, and inequality. Speakers Dzongsar Jamyang Khentse Rinpoche and Matthieu Ricard emphasized the integration of mindfulness with compassion and ethics to foster societal transformation.
3. Sustainable Urban Development: The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) emerged as a visionary project, combining modern technology with Bhutanese culture. Architect Bjarke Ingels showcased the design, which integrates sustainability, mindfulness, and economic clusters focused on wellness, technology, and nature.
4. Leadership and Global Perspectives: Nobel laureate President Juan Manuel Santos provided a compelling perspective on leadership, peace processes, and the importance of long–term thinking in addressing global issues like climate change. His reflections on Colombia’s peace efforts served as lessons for future global leadership.
5. Education and Workforce Development: Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz emphasized the need for a knowledge economy in Bhutan, underscoring the importance of lifelong learning and aligning economic development with Bhutan’s core values of Gross National Happiness (GNH).
Session One: Welcome Address by Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay: The Prime Minister set the stage by emphasizing the balance between economic growth, social progress, cultural preservation, and sustainability within the framework of GNH.
Session Two: Mindfulness and Compassion for Global Change: Dzongsar Jamyang Khentse Rinpoche and Matthieu Ricard shared insights on the power of mindfulness paired with compassion to tackle global challenges, urging for a more empathetic economy and society.
Session Three: Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) Unveiled: Bjarke Ingels presented the groundbreaking vision for GMC, a city that balances technological innovation with cultural heritage and sustainability, positioning it as a future global hub.
Session Four: Creating a Knowledge Economy: Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz discussed Bhutan’s socio–economic progress and the need for Bhutan to develop into a knowledge economy. He stressed the importance of lifelong learning, retaining skilled youth, and aligning Bhutan’s development with the core values of Gross National Happiness (GNH), while highlighting the private sector’s critical role in job creation and innovation.
Session Five: Building a Mindfulness City: This panel discussion featured key stakeholders on the GMC management team, hailing from various sectors, including architecture, technology, and sustainability, who discussed the challenges and opportunities in realizing the Gelephu Mindfulness City. The panel emphasized that the city’s unique integration of mindfulness, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation could serve as a global model for future urban developments.
Session Six: Gelephu Mindfulness City – From Vision to Action: Building on earlier discussions, this session explored actionable steps to turn the GMC vision into reality. Speakers addressed challenges such as infrastructure development and the need for financial regulation, while highlighting the city’s potential to attract global talent and serve as a hub for health, education, and mindful living.
Session Seven: Peace, Stability, and Development President Juan Manuel Santos shared his experiences from Colombia’s peace process, underscoring the importance of empathy, trust–building, and the humane treatment of adversaries. His insights provided valuable lessons in leadership and conflict resolution, particularly relevant in addressing today’s global challenges, including climate change and political conflicts.
Session Eight: Leadership and Transformation Moderated by BBC presenter Mark Lobel, this session focused on the key qualities and actions leaders must embody to drive transformational change. The speakers discussed leadership approaches essential for Bhutan’s future, with an emphasis on innovation, co–creation, and mindful governance.
(Gelephu, Bhutan – October 2, 2024) – Day two of the Bhutan Innovation Forum unfolded with a remarkable series of discussions and presentations centered around innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. The forum, attended by global thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and policy–makers, explored how Bhutan can harness technology, digital transformation, and forward–thinking governance to drive the country’s economic growth and entrepreneurship while staying aligned with its Gross National Happiness philosophy. A
recurring theme throughout the day was the Gelephu Mindfulness City project, which has emerged as a key pillar of Bhutan’s future economic strategy.
The Gelephu Mindfulness City, envisioned as a beacon for innovation and mindful living, was a focal point in discussions, with experts highlighting its potential to position Bhutan as a global leader in sustainable urban development. By integrating cutting–edge technology with Bhutan’s deep–rooted values of mindfulness and sustainability, the city aims to offer a unique blueprint for future cities worldwide.
The forum, which aims to position Bhutan as a hub for innovation while preserving its unique cultural heritage, showcased ideas ranging from decentralized finance (DeFi) to augmented reality, emphasizing the pivotal role of Gelephu Mindfulness City in driving these changes for a sustainable future.
Technology and Innovation as Catalysts for Development
The day’s sessions kicked off with a spotlight on technology as a critical driver for economic and social development in Bhutan. Speakers emphasized the importance of adopting emerging technologies, such as blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi), to overcome traditional challenges in access to finance, especially in rural areas. Participants discussed how Bhutan can leverage these technologies to foster entrepreneurship and economic growth, with Gelephu Mindfulness City serving as the ideal testbed for such innovations.
Bhutan’s young, educated, and tech–savvy population was identified as a key asset in driving the country’s digital transformation. “Our youth are not just the future, they are the present force that will lead Bhutan into the digital age,” stated one panelist. With nearly 95% of the population having access to mobile internet, the foundation is already in place to build a robust digital economy.
Entrepreneurship and Business Opportunities in Bhutan
Another central theme of the day was fostering entrepreneurship. Panelists shared insights into how Bhutan can unlock its entrepreneurial potential by creating an enabling environment for startups and small businesses. “Entrepreneurship in Bhutan is on the cusp of a new era,” remarked one expert, noting that the Gelephu Mindfulness City project is designed to support this ecosystem by offering state–of–the–art infrastructure and a supportive regulatory environment.
Participants also discussed the importance of niche markets and high–quality branding as essential strategies for Bhutan’s businesses to compete on the global stage. By focusing on unique, high–quality products and aligning them with Bhutan’s narrative of mindfulness and sustainability, local entrepreneurs can overcome the limitations of a small domestic market.
Youth empowerment was a major focus throughout the forum, with several sessions dedicated to exploring how Bhutan can equip its younger generation with the skills and opportunities to drive innovation. With the Gelephu Mindfulness City as a central hub for innovation, speakers highlighted the importance of creating training programs, mentoring opportunities, and funding mechanisms aimed at encouraging youth–led startups. “Our youth have the potential to become leaders in global innovation,” one panelist remarked. The city is expected to offer a dynamic space where young entrepreneurs can experiment, collaborate, and bring new ideas to life.
The importance of aligning economic growth with sustainability was reiterated in multiple sessions, echoing Bhutan’s long–standing commitment to environmental stewardship.
Discussions highlighted the country’s clean energy resources, particularly its hydropower potential, as key enablers of sustainable development.
The Gelephu Mindfulness City was showcased as a model for future green cities, with its emphasis on sustainable architecture, renewable energy, and a minimal carbon footprint.
Experts agreed that integrating sustainability into every facet of the city’s design would position Bhutan as a global leader in green innovation. “Sustainability is not just a goal, it’s an intrinsic part of our national identity,” remarked one of the forum’s keynote speakers.
Access to Finance and the Role of Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
One of the most highly anticipated sessions of the day explored the future of banking and decentralized finance (DeFi). With access to traditional banking services still limited in some parts of Bhutan, speakers discussed how DeFi could offer a revolutionary solution. By enabling peer–to–peer transactions and reducing reliance on traditional financial institutions, DeFi has the potential to democratize access to finance, particularly for entrepreneurs in rural areas.
Speakers also emphasized the importance of creating a regulatory framework that encourages innovation while protecting consumers. Countries like Switzerland, which have pioneered regulatory sandboxes for DeFi, were highlighted as models that Bhutan could follow.
The Gelephu Mindfulness City: A Vision for Bhutan’s Future
The Gelephu Mindfulness City was a recurring highlight throughout the forum, with discussions focusing on how it could become a center for technological innovation, sustainable living, and mindfulness. Positioned at the intersection of Bhutan’s traditional values and its ambitions for modern economic growth, the city is envisioned as a living laboratory for new technologies, sustainable urban design, and inclusive business practices.
Panelists stressed that the city would not only provide state–of–the–art infrastructure for businesses and entrepreneurs but also foster a lifestyle centered on mindfulness and well– being. “Gelephu will be a place where innovation and tradition coexist harmoniously, offering a unique model for urban development that prioritizes both economic growth and human happiness,” said a leading urban planner involved in the project.
Collaboration Between Public and Private Sectors
The role of collaboration between government, educational institutions, and the private sector was another key focus of the day’s discussions. Panelists emphasized the importance of creating a public–private ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship, innovation, and investment. The Gelephu Mindfulness City is expected to be a cornerstone of this collaboration, offering a space where government initiatives and private enterprise can intersect to drive growth.
A Path Forward
As the second day of the Bhutan Innovation Forum drew to a close, it was clear that the discussions had laid the groundwork for Bhutan’s next chapter of innovation and entrepreneurship. The forum not only reinforced Bhutan’s commitment to its Gross National Happiness philosophy but also highlighted the country’s readiness to embrace cutting–edge technologies and sustainable development practices.
The Gelephu Mindfulness City remains central to this vision, offering a tangible embodiment of Bhutan’s aspirations for a mindful, sustainable, and inclusive future. By fostering innovation, supporting entrepreneurs, and staying true to its values, Bhutan is positioning itself as a global leader in mindful development.
