eNorth East 2026 — Header
info@enortheast.in
October 23–24, 2026 · Shillong, Meghalaya
9th Edition — Nominations Open
About — eNorth East 2026
About eNorth East
eNE
India's Largest Tech for Society Forum for Northeast India
Since 2010 8 NE States 200+ Innovations Multi-stakeholder UN SDGs
8 States Covered
Arunachal Pradesh · Assam
Manipur · Meghalaya
Mizoram · Nagaland
Sikkim · Tripura

The eNorth East Forum is a deliberation, networking, advocacy, and knowledge exchange platform connecting stakeholders on issues critical to inclusive, last-mile, sustainable ICT and Internet Governance for development in Northeast India.

Spanning the eight strategic, landlocked states of the Eastern Himalayas, the Forum addresses the unique challenges and opportunities of one of India's most digitally significant yet underserved frontier regions.

It connects government, industry bodies, companies, CSOs, NGOs, academic institutions, advocates, and practitioners in open, multi-stakeholder dialogue — aimed at bridging the digital divide and shaping internet governance policy across the Northeast.

Since its founding in Guwahati in 2010, eNorth East has identified, recognised, and documented over 200 digital innovations that are driving sustainable development across the region, and has convened dialogues that have influenced ICT policy at both state and national levels.


Formation
How eNorth East Began

Started in 2010 in Guwahati, Assam, the platform is organised and promoted by the Council for Social and Digital Development, the North East Development Foundation, and the Digital Empowerment Foundation — together building a sustained forum for digital inclusion in Northeast India.

1st
2010 — Guwahati, Assam
1st eNorth East Forum founded
The platform was launched to connect digital development stakeholders across all eight NE states for the first time, focusing on ICT for grassroots development.
2–5
2011 – 2014
Annual editions grow the community
2nd through 5th editions held annually — building a growing network of innovators, policymakers, and civil society organisations across the region.
6th
2016
6th eNorth East Award
Expanded to 15 UN SDG-aligned award categories. Over 100 innovations documented and published for the first time in a comprehensive award book.
7th
2018 – 2020
7th Edition & NEIG launched
The North East Internet Governance (NEIG) programme and Community Network Exchange (CNX / NEICNET) were formally introduced as permanent Forum components.
8th
2023
8th eNorth East Award & NEIG State Series
First state-by-state NEIG dialogue series across all 8 NE states; 200+ innovations documented. 15 winners and 11 special mentions recognised.
9th
2026 — Shillong, Meghalaya
9th Edition — NEHU Campus
Theme: Sustainable & Resilient Internet Governance in the Himalayan Region. October 23–24, 2026 at NEHU Campus, Shillong.

Objectives
What We Work Towards

The eNorth East Forum is guided by four core objectives that shape every edition — from the award to the internet governance dialogues to community network research.

01
Connect and engage diverse stakeholders to deliberate on critical and emerging ICT and internet governance issues in Northeast India.
02
Initiate policy discussions and advocacy around ICT for development, digital connectivity, and digital rights across the eight NE states.
03
Scout, document, and promote good practices in digital innovation and technology for sustainable development in the region.
04
Undertake collaborative research and studies for knowledge building, capacity development, and multi-stakeholder advocacy in the Himalayan Northeast.

Components
The Three Pillars of eNorth East

The Forum operates through three interconnected programmes, each addressing a distinct dimension of digital development and internet governance in Northeast India.

eNorth East Award
The award platform identifies, recognises, and documents digital innovations driving sustainable development across the NER. Since 2010, over 200 innovations have been catalogued across 15 UN SDG-aligned categories — from health and education to climate and governance.
View 2026 Award →
NEIG — North East Internet Governance
NEIG engages individuals from all stakeholder groups — government, industry, academia, civil society — in open, equal-footing dialogue on internet-related public policy. Topics span connectivity, e-services, cyber safety, digital rights, and emerging technologies in the NER.
View NEIG 2026 →
NEICNET — Community Networks
NEICNET (North East India Community Network) explores the scope and feasibility of community-operated, decentralised networks as a viable last-mile alternative for remote and rural communities across the eight states — helping close the digital divide in the Eastern Himalayas.
Learn about NEICNET →

eNorth East Advisory Group (EAG)
Guided by Eminent Leaders

The EAG brings together experts from technology policy, academic research, digital rights, and internet governance to provide strategic direction and intellectual guidance to the Forum across all its programmes.

AS
Amitabh Singhal
Former CEO, NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India)
Board Member, Public Interest Registry (PIR)
OM
Osama Manzar
Founder & Director
Digital Empowerment Foundation, New Delhi
MG
Prof. M.P. Gupta
Department of Management Studies
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
BR
Basav Roy Choudhury
Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong

The Team & Organisers
Who Runs eNorth East

The Forum is organised and promoted by three founding institutions working in close partnership to advance digital development and internet governance across the Northeast region.

CSDD
Council for Social & Digital Development
Lead Organiser
NEDF
North East Development Foundation
Co-Organiser
DEF
Digital Empowerment Foundation
Institutional Support · eNGO Network
WSA
World Summit on the Information Society
Programme Partner
Get in Touch
Forum
9th eNorth East 2026
NEHU Campus, Shillong, Meghalaya
Dates
October 23–24, 2026
Website
Powered by
eNGO Network
Digital Empowerment Foundation
Contact Us →