Guwahati, Jan 18: Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati is organising a research and industrial conclave – ‘Integration 2022’ – on the premises of the institute here from January 20 in a bid to boost start-ups and encourage industrial interactions.
The four-day conclave will facilitate amalgamation of academia, industry and start-ups to boost industrial interactions and start-up activities.
For the first time, industrial interaction and entrepreneurial events have been included in the annual research conclave.
The Technology Incubation Centre, IIT Guwahati allows virtual incubation and permits student start-ups. Besides, new grants and incubation are being provided by IIT-G Technology Innovation and Development Foundation (TIDF).
“Earlier only graduates were allowed to have their start-ups incubated at the IIT Guwahati Technology Incubation Centre (IIT Guwahati TIC). But from now onwards, the institute has also allowed incubation of IIT Guwahati students’ start-ups at the IIT Guwahati Technology Incubation Centre, also allowing virtual incubation,” a statement by IIT-G here on Tuesday said.
The institute has already signed MoUs with iDEX (Defence Innovation Organisation) and central PSUs such as OIL and NRL to fund the start-ups.
Moreover, IIT-G has tie-ups with nationalised and private banks for providing loans to the incubated start-ups. It also runs a special scheme for women entrepreneurs.
IIT-G has recently incorporated a section-8 company, IIT Guwahati Technology Innovation and Development Foundation (IITG TIDF). The company has two divisions.
“Through its TIH division, the IITG TIDF provides a grant of up to Rs 10 lakh for start-ups working on underwater exploration and incubating them in the IIT-G TIC. Through its BioNest division, it directly incubates bio-related incubators.
IIT-G director, T. G. Sitharam has constituted a committee headed by the Dean, Industrial Interactions and Special Initiative (II&SI) to give course credit to the students for their entrepreneurial activities.
“As stated by our Prime Minister, we are in the golden era of start-ups. Being one of the leading institutes for research and innovation, IIT Guwahati wishes to contribute to create a start-up friendly ecosystem,” Sitharam said.
“Entrepreneurs can join our Technology Incubation Centre and Research Park, where we provide not only technical mentorship but also access to our resources and opportunities to work with our faculties and students to develop new technologies,” he said.