Conclave at IIT Guwahati from Jan 20 to boost industrial connect, start-ups

Guwahati: In sync with its measures to boost start-ups and promote industrial interactions, the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati along with the IIT Guwahati Research Park is organising a ‘Research and Industrial Conclave (RIC) – Integration 2022’ on the premises of the institute here from January 20-23.

“The initiative is an amalgamation of academia, industry and start-ups to boost industrial interactions and start-up activities. For the first time, industrial interaction and entrepreneurial events are included with the annual research conclave,” sources at IIT-Guwahati informed on Tuesday.

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The Technology Incubation Centre, IIT Guwahati, allows virtual incubation and student start-ups are permitted. New grants and incubation are provided by IIT-G Technology Innovation and Development Foundation (TIDF).

“Earlier, only graduates were allowed to have their start-up incubated at IIT Guwahati Technology Incubation Centre (IIT Guwahati TIC). But from now onwards, the institute has also allowed incubation of IIT Guwahati students’ start-up at IIT Guwahati Technology Incubation Centre including allowing virtual incubation as well,” an official source said.

The institute had signed MoUs with iDEX (Defence Innovation Organisation) and PSUs such as OIL INDIA, NRL to fund the start-ups.

Moreover, IIT-G has tie-ups with nationalised and private banks for providing loans to the incubated start-up. 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, Prof. 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 creating a start-up friendly ecosystem,” Prof. Sitharam said while dwelling on the significance of the initiatives taken by the institute.

“I invite the entrepreneurs to join our Technology Incubation Centre and Research Park, where we provide not only the technical mentorship but also access to our resources and opportunities to work with our faculties and students to develop new technologies,” he said.

Moreover, IIT-G also organised a special panel discussion on ‘Success of a start-up: Opportunities and Challenges’ to commemorate National Start-up Day on Sunday.