JAMMU, Nov 14: In an initiative to take innovation and entrepreneurship beyond institutional boundaries, the Centre of Excellence (CoE), Industrial Biotech Park Kathua, under the aegis of CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu, has launched a two-week-long youth outreach roadshow, ‘Entrepreneurship Connect: Kathua to Kargil’, beginning today, to connect students, young innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs with opportunities in science and technology-based start-ups.
The roadshow, an activity of Centre of Excellence (CoE), IBTP, Kathua which is financially supported by the Jammu and Kashmir Science & Technology Deptt., will cover 12 locations across Jammu and Kashmir, starting from Kathua and passing through Hiranagar, Samba, Vijaypur, Jammu, Katra, Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban, Srinagar, Drass and Kargil.
During the two-week initiative, the CSIR-IIIM team will engage with students at more than 12 colleges and educational institutions, organising dedicated interaction programmes to promote innovation, start-ups and science-based entrepreneurship.
As part of the initiative, dedicated interaction programmes will be organised at each participating college, where CSIR-IIIM scientists and experts will engage with students, introduce them to entrepreneurship and incubation opportunities, and assess innovative ideas with potential for further development.
Addressing a press conference, Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM Jammu and CSIR-NBRI Lucknow, said the initiative was part of the institute’s efforts to operationalise the Centre of Excellence at the Industrial Biotechnology Park (IBTP), Kathua, and build a strong entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region.
He said the Industrial Biotechnology Park was established as a flagship project under the vision of Hon’ble Union Minister for Science and Technology and Vice-President, CSIR, Dr. Jitendra Singh, with the objective of creating opportunities for young people to translate scientific ideas into viable business ventures.
“Establishing the Biotechnology Park was not just about creating infrastructure. The larger objective is to connect our youth, students, researchers and farmers with science, research and entrepreneurship and provide them the necessary support to develop their ideas,” Dr Ahmed said.
He said the two-week roadshow would involve direct interaction with students of more than 12 educational institutions, particularly degree colleges, through awareness programmes, brainstorming sessions and innovation-focused activities.
The initiative will also feature hackathons and ideathons, providing students an opportunity to present ideas with the potential to develop into marketable products and technologies.
Participants will be able to submit their concepts through presentations, short videos or photographs of products they have developed. Shortlisted candidates will present their ideas before an expert panel.
The top three participants will receive awards and certificates, while promising ideas will also be considered for incubation support. Certificates will be provided to all participants, with spot registration available.
Highlighting the region’s potential, Dr Ahmed said Jammu and Kashmir had abundant natural resources, particularly in the herbal and medicinal plant sectors, while its young population possessed considerable innovative potential.
He said the initiative would focus on opportunities in biotechnology, medicinal and aromatic plants, herbal products, agriculture, food processing, fermentation technology and other science-based sectors.
“Many students have promising ideas, but the important question is whether they get the right exposure and guidance to take those ideas forward. Through this roadshow, we want to understand their ideas, assess their potential and connect them with the facilities and expertise available at our institutions,” he said.
Dr Ahmed said students with promising concepts would be invited to the Industrial Biotechnology Park, Kathua, where they could access technical guidance, analytical facilities, knowledge support and assistance in business development.
Explaining the institute’s existing support network, he said CSIR-IIIM was providing incubation support through BioNEST Incubator at Jammu and Atal Incubation Centre in Srinagar and in particular, through Centre of Excellence at IBTP Kathua with the full support rendered by Team headed by Babila Rakwal, IAS, Administrative Secretary, J&K Science & Technology Department.
He said these initiatives had already helped the institute establish connections with more than 125 start-ups, of which over 25 had progressed towards product development.
Referring to the response received from students during earlier interactions, Dr Ahmed said young participants had demonstrated considerable enthusiasm and innovative thinking.
He added that educational institutions had also expressed interest in organising more such engagements to provide students with exposure to scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Responding to a question about recognition and awards for participants, he said students would receive institutional-level recognition for their ideas, while promising start-ups could also be connected with platforms such as the Entrepreneurs Association of India for assessment and wider recognition.
The roadshow will also feature Hackathon 9.0 – Empowering Youth of Jammu and Kashmir, with its programme at Government Degree College (GDC), Kargil, scheduled for November 17.
The hackathon will encourage students to develop innovative concepts with the potential to be converted into marketable products and technologies.
The focus areas include drug discovery and development, Ayurvedic medicines, fermentation-based products, agriculture, cattle feed, food processing, essential oil-based products and mushroom-based products.
Dr Ahmed said the broader objective was to ensure that young people, researchers, start-ups and farmers, including those from remote areas, could benefit from the region’s scientific infrastructure and natural-resource potential.
He said strengthening research linkages, encouraging technology commercialisation and promoting innovation-led enterprises would contribute to regional development and the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Among others present during the launching event were Dr. Saurabh Saran, Sr. Principal Scientist, Head, IIIM Incubation Centres and Project Coordinator, CoE, Ajaz Mir, CEO BioNEST, IBTP, Dr. Vidushi Abrol, Business Manager and Dr. Shefali Chib, Incubation I/C.