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Two documents of understandings were inked by the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) Bhubaneswar on 23rd February 2022 during the two-day visit of Shri Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI to Bhubaneswar.  Shri Kumar, a technocrat of repute in the fields of IT & Telecom took over as DG, STPI in December 2021 and this was his maiden official visit to STPI Bhubaneswar.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between STPI and the National Aluminium Company Limited. Shri Manas Panda, Director, STPI-Bhubaneswar and Shri Subrat Kar, GGM (R&D), NALCO signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations. The MoU envisages cooperation and support between both the organisations for nurturing startups and innovators under incubation in  Electropreneur Park Bhubaneswar, a Centre of Entrepreneurship (CoE) of STPI and those to be incubated in STPI’s upcoming CoE in Bhubaneswar specialising in Industry 4.0 and  emerging technologies like cybersecurity and advanced analytics. NALCO would extend mentoring by experienced industry professionals of the company, share O&M related problem statements, extend test-bed for testing of solutions developed, provide need-based funding and seed capital support to selected startups and help connect the solutions developed to the market.

The second understanding in the shape of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was concluded between STPI and the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of Odisha. Shri Manas Panda, Director, STPI-Bhubaneswar and Smt. Puspasree Puhan, Deputy Director, DST signed the MoA. As per the provisions, STPI will be a valued partner of DST in promoting biotech startups through the Bio-Innovation Grant Scheme. Selected biotech startups will be provided with funding, mentoring, prototype development assistance, product launching and go to market guidance through this scheme.

On the occasion, DG, STPI spoke about the contribution of STPI towards the software and IT services exports from India and expressed satisfaction that STPI will have eight centres in Odisha, the highest in any state. Shri Manoj Mishra, Secretary, E&IT stated that the coming together of STPI and NALCO as well as STPI and DST through these understandings is a big boon to the startups, innovators and entrepreneurs working in ESDM, Industry 4.0 and Biotechnology domains. Shri Manasa Prasad Mishra, Director (P&T), NALCO highlighted how the startup community and the startup ecosystem would be benefitted from the coming together of organisations from different business domains and expertise. Shri Manas Panda, Director, STPI Bhubaneswar spoke about the upcoming Centre of Entrepreneurship on emerging technologies in Bhubaneswar.

The understandings were signed in the presence DG, STPI, Secretary, E&IT Department and Director (Project & Technical), NALCO. Many other senior officials of the three partnering organisations including Executive Director (P&T), NALCO and a good number of entrepreneurs from MSME and startups were present on the occasion

'WE HAVE ALREADY BUILT A ROBUST TECH STARTUP ECOSYSTEM'

The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) has taken several initiatives to foster a healthy startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country and give an impetus to the IT sector. The STPI's new Director General Arvind Kumar, is confident of facilitating startups to acquire more than100 patents in emerging technology domains by 2025. 

Excerpts of a conversation with Arjun Yadav of BW Businessworld:

Your current role as Director General, STPI is quite a big shift from the one you played at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India till recently, is it not?

The transition from an advisory role at TRAI to the apex position of a national-level organisation has been a great experience. For half of my professional life, I have been in a regulatory role and was associated with the telecom sector. So, with my new role at STPI, that shift from telecom to the IT sector is a big change. I will build a comprehensive strategy to put this organisation into the next orbital growth apropos the mandate of our ministry (MeitY).

Software services exports had risen in 2020-21 and ITES accounted for 34.7 per cent of these exports, which is among your core competencies. This comes at a time when exports of other services declined. What has been the STPI, contribution to this trend?

The STPI enables the industry to achieve growth levels. Historically, exports from STPI-registered units during ,1991- 92 had been just 17 crore and now after 30 years, it has grown nearly 29,195 times to 4,96,313 crore during , 2020-21. We have always endeavoured to enable industry leaders and companies to scale up their businesses and come out with innovative solutions. During the pandemic we re-laxed norms relating to physically getting any official approvals or licenses.

The pandemic disrupted industries across verticals, but the Indian IT industry has successfully weathered this despite massive challenges. To make this possible, STPI initiated a remote work culture for the Indian IT industry to deliver their projects to global clients in a seamless manner.

Do you see any specific challenges for the startup ecosystem in this post-pandemic phase?

I don't foresee any such challenges for the startups to prosper. India created nearly three unicorns every month in 2021. We have already built a robust tech startup ecosystem in the country through Centres of Entrepreneurship (CoEs) and Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS) by collaborating with central/state government, industry, academia, industry associations, and funding partners. Our collaborative platform is a first-of-its-kind paradigm that facilitates startups world-class incubation, cutting-edge labs, mentoring, funding, market connect, and I PR facilitation. We are planning to nurture 1900-plus startups and create 100 plus patents in various emerging technology domains by 2025.

The STPI, 62nd centre was recently inaugurated at Meerut. What sort of employment opportunities is being created for the youth and what is your assessment of their enthusiasm for entrepreneurship?

I can tell you that there is a lot of enthusiasm. Meerut, specifically, has a unique advantage. It is well connected now to the capital because of the expressway and the upcoming Rapid Rail Transit. Secondly, it has infrastructure which is more cost-effective than Delhi and a good number of engineering colleges in the vicinity, owing to which there is a lot of affinity for the IT industry. So, Meerut can be an important centre from STPI's perceptive. I'm confident that whatever incubation space we have created there will be fully occupied within a year. When that happens, I can assure you that STPI through Meerut and other centres in U.P. will be able to bring an IT revolution in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

If we talk about employment opportunities, STPI has implemented India BPO Promotion Scheme ( IBPS) and NEBPS schemes with great success. More than 47,000 youths have been employed in tier-2 and tier-3 cities of India, which demonstrates that with the right policy and focused efforts, the desired objectives can be achieved. Our pan India presence and especially 54 centres in tier-2 and tier-3 cities have played a pivotal role in facilitating world-class incubation facilities for young engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators, SMEs and startups to realise their entrepreneurial dream.

Another core competency of the STPI is in the promotion of emerging technologies. How can startups and MSMEs leverage these technologies?

There is no doubt that the future will be driven by technology. The Indian IT Industry is on a hot foot to compete with its global counter parts in delivering solutions and products to address contemporary challenges. We are almost on the cusp of an extreme technology revolution wherein smart players can gain a competitive edge over their laggard peers.

The adoption of these emerging technologies will bring a tectonic shift in the automation of services and product manufacturing. We provide seed funding to MSMEs to give them financial security and also mentorship to help them gain confidence to innovate and tackle the fear of failure. Time is opportune for startups and small companies to leverage and showcase their path-breaking products to the larger world and create enormous value for their organisation and the nation at large, and realise the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The North Eastern states were neglected for years.Tell us about some of STPIs schemes for the region that will help in employment creation for the youth.

To drive tech-entrepreneurial movement in the Northeast we have launched eight COEs and Startup Innovation Zones (SIZs) in the capital cities of eight states under the OctaNE scheme. What's unique about these centres is that each centre caters to a distinct emerging technology. These centres include loT in Agriculture CoE/SIZ in Guwahati, Emerging Tech (AR/VR) CoE/SIZ in Imphal, Data Analytics and Al CoE/SIZ in Agartala, IT Applications in Graphics Design CoE/SIZ in Kohima, IT Application in Healthcare and AgriTech CoE/SIZ in Gangtok, GIS Applications (including Drone Technology) CoE/SIZ in Itanagar. etc. OctaNE plans to foster 367 startups in the next five years in the region. 

The attribute of blockchain technology to bring transparency and traceability in the transactions makes it inherently good for governance, a top STPI official said on Friday.

While speaking at the Blockchain Revolution Summit 2022, STPI Director-General Arvind Kumar said the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) has created a centre for excellence, Apiary, in Gurugram to promote the blockchain ecosystem where it will onboard 25 new start-ups working in the segment in addition to 10 entities that are already working there.

"As I said, it (blockchain) has trust, it has transparency. Therefore, there cannot be better technology than blockchain for good governance and social impact projects," Kumar said. He said that when one technology can give transparency, trust and traceability then it can create a wide social impact.

"These features of it (blockchain) are inherently good for good governance," Kumar said. He added that the STPI has set up a centre of excellence (CoE) for blockchain technology, Apiary, in Gurgaon where over 100 start-ups will be onboarded in five years.

"Ten start-ups have been onboarded and 25 others have been selected. So, there will be 35 by May 2022. Those who have not seen the internet revolution. We are again excited. Blockchain technology is going to change the way we live," Kumar said.

Press Release of CHUNAUTI 3.0
New Delhi
10th Feb 202

CHUNAUTI 3.0 To Deepen Digital Inclusion through Digital Accessibility Solutions

Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India has launched Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS) “CHUNAUTI 3.0 – Advancing Digital Applications with Special Focus on Accessibility on 10th February 2022. CHUNAUTI 3.0 is focused on identifying and supporting promising startup working towards digital transformation & accessible products/solutions enabling equitable & inclusive growth. The last date for applying is set for 10th March 2022.

“CHUNAUTI 3.0 can bring a paradigm shift in democratizing the usage of digital applications across the user segments by empowering promising tech startups in Tier-II cities to develop path-breaking assistive technologies for various domains by focusing on usability, accessibility, and inclusion,” underlined Shri Arvind Kumar, DG, STPI.

“The overall responses through CHUNAUTI 1.0 & 2.0 have been overwhelming and the startups selected through these challenge programs are embarked on building innovative technology products. We are expecting massive response for CHUNAUTI 3.0 from startups for inclusive product development in the country,” cited Shri Subodh Sachan, Director-HQ, STPI.

NGIS is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and STPI to build a world-class incubation ecosystem for identifying and nurturing startups working towards path-breaking software products for addressing the futuristic problems in business and society, and transforming them to become tomorrow’s unicorns. Along with MeitY, STPI, MSH, STPINEXT, a vast spectrum of industry, academia, investment and funding agencies have joined hands to support the innovative product-focussed start-ups comprehensively.

NGIS is focused on 12 tier-II locations in the country that include Agartala, Bhilai, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Dehradun, Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Mohali, Patna and Vijayawada. It aims to support 300 start-ups/entrepreneurs/SMEs in the field of IT/ITeS/ESDM for 3 years. 129 startups have been selected through CHUNAUTI 2.0. Startups pan-India can apply and become NGIS beneficiary. Each startup under this scheme becomes eligible for financial incentives including monthly stipend & get upto rupees 25 lakh as seed investment along with world class mentoring, networking & market connect. Each NGIS location has a dedicated chief mentor along with a 'mentor pool' and knowledge partners.

For details, please visit: https://innovate.stpinext.in/about-us/chunauti-3.0

RSVP
 

Related document

 Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India has launched Next Generation Incubation Scheme (NGIS) “CHUNAUTI 3.0 – Advancing Digital Applications with Special Focus on Accessibility on 10th February 2022. CHUNAUTI 3.0 is focused on identifying and supporting promising startup working towards digital transformation & accessible products/solutions enabling equitable & inclusive growth. The last date for applying is set for 10th March 2022.

“CHUNAUTI 3.0 can bring a paradigm shift in democratizing the usage of digital applications across the user segments by empowering promising tech startups in Tier-II cities to develop path-breaking assistive technologies for various domains by focusing on usability, accessibility, and inclusion,” underlined Shri Arvind Kumar, DG, STPI.

NGIS is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and STPI to build a world-class incubation ecosystem for identifying and nurturing startups working towards path-breaking software products for addressing the futuristic problems in business and society, and transforming them to become tomorrow’s unicorns. Along with MeitY, STPI, MSH, STPINEXT, a vast spectrum of industry, academia, investment and funding agencies have joined hands to support the innovative product-focussed start-ups comprehensively.

NGIS is focused on 12 tier-II locations in the country that include Agartala, Bhilai, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Dehradun, Guwahati, Jaipur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Mohali, Patna and Vijayawada. It aims to support 300 start-ups/entrepreneurs/SMEs in the field of IT/ITeS/ESDM for 3 years. 129 startups have been selected through CHUNAUTI 2.0. Startups pan-India can apply and become NGIS beneficiary. Each startup under this scheme becomes eligible for financial incentives including monthly stipend & get upto rupees 25 lakh as seed investment along with world class mentoring, networking & market connect. Each NGIS location has a dedicated chief mentor along with a ‘mentor pool’ and knowledge partners.

"Three applications have been received for setting up electronic manufacturing clusters (EMC) in the states of Telangana, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra which are being reviewed for approval," Arvind Kumar, director-general, Software Technology Parks of india (STPI) said, adding that states such as Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kamataka and Bihar are in the process to apply for the Central scheme.

Three new proposals from states- Telangana, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand-for setting up electronics clusters under the new scheme, are under consideration by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity), a top official said.

The state-run organisation, founded in 1991 to encourage and promote software export from India, also offers infrastructure, skilling, mentoring, and market connect to startups.

"In EMC 2.0, we already have two such clusters already approved with a proposed area of 1,040 acres with a development cost of Rs 1410-crore", Kumar said.
Further, the official said that it is estimated that more than 45,000 direct job opportunities would be created through twin clusters.

Under the modified scheme, proposals from Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIDC) and Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) have already been approved by the MeiTY.

In April, the Centre launched the Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme to offset disabilities faced by the sector, and to develop a robust electronics manufacturing ecosystem in the country, and to fortify the linkage between domestic and international market by strengthening supply chain.

Under the modified scheme, 50% of the development cost is borne by the government. With an increased scope, the EMC 20 allows at least 10% to 20% of the entire cluster to be taken up by an anchor or bigger unit which would further undertake their own investments.

"There is a traction around the scheme, and we are ensuring that there has to be a very clear-cut success criteria only then the government spends money out there," the official added.