The Governing Council shall comprise the following:-
To promote the development and export of software and software services including Information Technology (I.T.) Enabled Services / Bio-IT.
Date: June 11, 2020
STPI Pune directorate has seven centres across Maharashtra & Goa catering the IT/ITES industry from Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Kolhapur and Goa.
The exports revenue from 879 IT/ITES registered units operating in the state of Maharashtra & Goa was Rs 85,163.59 Cr. during the financial year 2018-19 with the employment of 450,155 employees and investment of Rs. 3,323.95 Cr. over the same period. There has been a 100 % growth of IT/ITES exports in FY 2018-19 as compared to the financial year 2008-09. Maharashtra is the second largest IT/ITES exports In India, with Pune recorded the highest software exports, with Mumbai at second place, followed by Nagpur and Nashik.
The journey of Software Technology Park of India (STPI) is synonymous with the evolution of IT industry in India. However, what remained unseen was the fact that the beginning of this stupendous journey was quite modest & sober and full of difficulties as well. When few Indian IT companies had started their operations in the early 80’s, the environment for the growth of IT industry was not conducive. High import duties on computer hardware and software, the requirement of licenses and the absence of a national policy for IT were the major bottlenecks for companies to succeed in this industry. Lack of proper infrastructure, difficulty in the import of computers, servers and other necessary hardware were the major roadblocks for companies to execute their offshore development programmes while on-shoring was consummated by Indian talent.
In the mid-80’s, few visionaries like MGK Menon, KPP Nambiar and Narasimhiah Seshagiri in India saw the opportunities of growth and huge potential for job creation in IT sector through software services and outsourcing. Subsequently, they created the frameworks for the legal, operational, and business processes involved in it. Eventually, they put forward a strategy in 1986 for the promotion of software development and exports, which was published in the Gazette of India.
The first historic event that heralded the genesis of IT Industry in India was the establishment of three Software Technology Parks at Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru and Pune in 1989. Consequently, on 5th June 1991, these three STPs were merged to create a single entity Software Technology Parks of India.
Close to three decades of unflinching service to the nation in making India an IT Superpower may seem insignificant in the journey of human civilization. But this short span has transformed a nation from a sober economic performer to a global leader in the technology revolution and the fastest emerging economy in the world. As incredible as it may sound, STPI has been the beacon of such journey that has marvelled the global stakeholders many a time. Now, STPI has 60 centres across pan-India with 52 centres in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities as compare to three centres in 1989.
Today, the US $191 billion IT industry, comprising around 18,000-plus firms that directly employ 4.36 million strong workforces, that contributes 8.0% of GDP is a testimony to the STPI’s resolute performance in transforming Indian IT industry into global outsourcing destination for software exports. Another feather to this cap is that the exports clocked by STP-registered units stand at INR 4,21,103 crore during 2019-20. In last 3 decades, the determined efforts of STPI in promoting IT industry in global platforms and boosting software exports essentially reflect STPI’s commitment towards economic progress of the nation, and team STPI will unswervingly continue to fulfil the aspirations of the “New India” in times to come.
As a policy enabler, STPI has been bringing out futuristic schemes apropos the technological advancements. Having a vision for transforming India into a product nation, STPI has been activating multiple initiatives under “National Policy on Software Products” approved by Government of India recently. To enable the Indian IT industry to face the challenges of Industry 4.0 and build India’s leadership in emerging technology areas like IoT, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented & Virtual Reality, FinTech, Medical Electronics, Health Informatics, Gaming & Animation, Machine Learning, Data Science & Analytics, Cyber Security, Chip Designing, ESDM etc. STPI is embarked on setting up 21+ domain-centric Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in a collaborative manner across India. These CoEs will enable a pan India vibrant tech startup ecosystem in times to come. As India is at the forefront of adopting disruptive technologies, the STPI CoEs will unmistakably play the role of catalyst and provide the desired momentum to the innovation and startup led future growth of IT industry.
On this occasion, STPI has organized online series of knowledge sessions where the eminent speaker was called from Government of India, Industry, Industry associations, Academia to share their thought on Policy, Emerging Technologies & innovation and Entrepreneurship and future skilling.
STPI-Vijayawada has constructed 50,000sft. G+6 floors IT Tower VINCITY (Vijayawada Incubation Center for Innovation in Information Technology). This facility has state-of-the-art infrastructure for IT/ITES companies to start their operations with minimum time and investment. It has 13,400sft. plug & play area with 165 Workstation & 9 Manager Cabins, which are divided into small office’s with 15-25 Workstation and 1-2 Manager Cabins. Further 19,073sft. warm-shell space(3 floors) are available for companies to develop fit-outs as per their requirement.
STPI-Vijayawada incubation facility is located in heart- of- the-city, it is convenient for employees to reach office 24X7 without any security problems. The Incubation facility has state-of-the-art infrastructure like Work Stations, Cubicles, Manager Cabins, Discussion Rooms, Conference hall etc. suitable to IT/ITES companies. The facility is fully air-conditioned, having Car & Scooter parking facility, 24X7 Security services, CCTV surveillance etc. STPI provides reliable Internet connectivity with multiple upstream links for redundancy, 24X7 Network Operations Center(NOC) operations handled by qualified technical staff to help the incubation companies.
VINCITY has the infrastructure, which is equivalent to major IT Towers in metro cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad. The facility has Integrated Building Management System (IBMS), Tier-3 Equivalent Datacentre, training facility, uninterrupted power supply with 1+1 DG sets and UPS. Provides 24X7 access, Cafeteria facility, Sewage Treatment Plant and Solar Power generation etc.
Datacenter: Tier-III equivalent datacenter is being established in VINCITY to cater to the needs of IT companies. The datacenter will have infrastructure like precision AC, fire suppression system and other fire rated equipment. It will be monitored through Integrated BMS and Network Management System(NMS).
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STPI Vijaywada VINCITY, NH16, opp. LEPL ICON, Krishna Nagar, Benz Circle, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh 520008
SELECTION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTION / FUND MANAGER for INVESTING & MANAGING SEED-FUND IN START-UPS
The STP Scheme is a 100% export-oriented scheme for the development and export of computer software, including export of professional services using communication links or physical media. As a unique scheme, it focuses on one sector, i.e. computer software. The scheme integrates the government concept of 100% Export Oriented Units (EOU) and Export Processing Zones (EPZ) and the concept of Science Parks/Technology Parks, as operating elsewhere in the world.
New STPI Corporate Website launch
The NEP, 2020, will help academic institutions impart holistic education to students, making them not only great professionals but also transforming them as global leaders
In a world of rapid revolution in the knowledge landscape, dramatic advances in science and research technology, evolution in entrepreneurial aspirations, changing employment paradigm, growing digitisation of learning process and rising needs of innovation to address spiralling global challenges, the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, is a pioneering initiative. It will help transform India’s educational system into a holistic, multi-disciplinary, flexible, synergistic, equitable, pluralistic, responsible and innovative learning ecosystem.
NEP 2020 is like a déjà vu of the paradigm ingrained in the ancient Indian educational system, one that entrenched the highest standards of multi-disciplinary teaching and research in world-class universities such as Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramshila and Vallabhi. These universities nurtured thousands of students from India and abroad, focussing on multi-disciplinary research and innovation to build well-rounded and innovative individuals, who had the capability to lead and emancipate society through their knowledge and wisdom. Famous intellectuals of India such as Chanakya, Panini, Charaka, Vishnu Sharma and Jivaka, who were the students of the Takshashila University, left an indelible mark in world history for possessing deeper knowledge in their respective fields of study.
Now, the time is opportune to initiate a complete overhaul of the Indian educational system by infusing the past glory and at the same time, keeping in mind the contemporary context as the key driver of the mission. The 21st century world demands a holistic and multi-disciplinary educational system that can deliver integrated skills and capacities to the students, making them not only great professionals but also transforming them as global leaders who can lead the Government, enterprise, politics, economy, society and human progress with greater efficacy.
The key differentiator of NEP 2020 is the synergy in curriculum across all levels of education — from early childhood care to primary education to school education and higher education. This will help the students learn and grow in an ecosystem where learning is not just limited to examinations and certificates, but goes beyond that, helping them develop critical thinking, ethical values, the spirit of service and inculcate life skills such as communication, cooperation, teamwork and resilience. The cornerstone of NEP 2020 is the inclusion of students from all social strata across the educational system through various supportive policies. This will help the students — irrespective of their gender, caste, religion, language, socio-economic conditions and region — avail high-quality education for their overall growth and contribute towards nation-building.
Pivoted on multi-disciplinary learning in higher education, NEP 2020 will empower students to adapt the demands of the 21st century in a more effective way. For example, a student learning AI as a major with economics as a minor can build a better AI system for economic development than a student whose focus is only on AI. As the world is changing, it’s imperative for a country like India to adapt to the multi-disciplinary form of learning so as to address the global challenges in energy, healthcare, water, food and sanitation among others. For instance, the challenges thrown by the COVID-19 pandemic can only be addressed through a multi-disciplinary approach.
NEP 2020 has articulated a paradigm shift from NEP 1986 by urging higher educational institutes to have a greater focus on research and innovation by establishing centres for start-up incubation, technological development, in frontier areas of research, greater industry-academia collaboration and inter-disciplinary research, including humanities, social sciences, science and technological research. This approach will strengthen translatory research, innovation, IP creation and entrepreneurship in the country. The students passing through such educational system will be tomorrow’s job creators, innovators, leaders and institution builders. Globally, it’s an established fact that a multi-disciplinary approach to education is good for the economic progress of a country.
Global higher educational institutes such as MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Caltech, Oxford, Cambridge and Princeton have significantly contributed to research, innovation, IP creation and economic progress. Countries like the US and the UK have leveraged such multi-disciplinary educational systems to become industrially and technologically developed nations.
One of the most laudable features of NEP 2020 is the extensive use of technology in the teaching and learning process. Technology can reduce the barriers, enhance access, increase affordability and ensure inclusion. As India is a global leader in IT and emerging technology domains, NEP 2020 can leverage the robust digital infrastructure established by the Government and the industry.
Online and digital education will also help divyang students access the learning ecosystem in a seamless manner. The formation of the National Educational Technology Forum (NETF), as proposed by the new NEP, is a pioneering idea to promote the free exchange of ideas across higher learning institutes to foster innovation across the board.
India is now at the cusp of digital transformation and its impact is benefitting the society at large. Further, a strong foundation of the IT industry has paved the way for tech start-ups to leverage emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, IoT, big data, blockchain and robotics. Such dynamism in the ecosystem has also resulted in building a start-up culture in the country. To further strengthen this start-up culture and enable it to become an enormous mass movement across industry verticals, NEP, 2020, will play a colossal role by supplying professionals, who are inherently driven by the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The new education policy also envisions a comprehensive approach to transform the quality and quantity of research in India in an integrated manner. A significant shift in school education system to encourage a more play and discovery-based style of learning, with an emphasis on scientific method and critical thinking, will further foster innovation early in the life of students. In extension, the establishment of a National Research Foundation (NRF), as envisioned by NEP, 2020, will promote a culture of research and innovation of higher order across all disciplines.
NRF will also play a catalytic role in propelling the growth of IPRs and patents in various domains. Research and innovation will further promote startup culture in the country to develop path-breaking products and solutions to address local and global challenges.
NEP 2020 also proposes a significant rise in the allocation of funding for education from the current 4.43 per cent of the GDP to six per cent. As funding is critical for any national mission, public-private-partnership will play a transformative role in developing a modern, advanced educational ecosystem to achieve a high-quality and equitable education system, one that can steer India’s future economic, social, cultural, intellectual and technological progress and growth.
NEP 2020 is a pioneering step towards building the bedrock for a self-reliant India. The principles, objectives, visions, missions and directives will enable us to have a knowledge-driven economy. A knowledge-based educational ecosystem will promote innovation-led entrepreneurship, encourage youth of the nation to become job creators, bolster industrial productivity and rev up inclusive development. This will eventually accelerate the growth of the economy, increase per capita income and transform India into a global technology leader in the times to come.
(The writer is Director General, STPI, Govt of India)
