The Best Agri-Start can win up to 50 lakh by IIT-Kanpur!

The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre, IIT Kanpur's technology business incubator, is launching the NIRMAN Accelerator Programme, which is supported by the Government of India's Department of Science and Technology.

According to a press release, the programme will focus on manufacturing startups in the healthcare and agriculture domains, assisting them in overcoming the challenges associated with the prototype-to-market journey.

Under the programme, 15 start-ups will be chosen and given the opportunity to accelerate their product's journey from lab to market. The top performing start-ups from the cohort of 15 will receive a cash prize of up to Rs 10 lakhs. The programme is accepting applications till August 5, 2022.

Prof Amitabha Bandyopadhyay, IIT Kanpur's professor-in-charge of innovation and incubation told Krishi Jagran that "Our country has faced many challenges in the manufacturing sector. Hence we urgently need innovators and start-ups working in healthcare and agriculture to address some of the pertinent developmental challenges in order to elevate the status of manufacturing in India."

When asked about the award selection criteria, she told that “Everything depends on the kind of manufacturing startup you are and how much assistance you need. The viability of your innovative idea as well as the quality of service will be taken into consideration while selecting. The selected startups will also receive funding support of up to Rs 50 lakhs after the program completion.”

According to Dr. Nikhil Agarwal, CEO of FIRST IIT-Kanpur and AIIDE, "SIIC has extensive experience working with promising innovators and start-ups to maximize social impact. This collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology aims to revitalize the country's manufacturing sector."

The six-month programme will be divided into four sections: Product Growth Principles, Engineering Acceleration, Navigating the Compliance Puzzle, and Leading to Next-Stage Growth.

The programme will provide knowledge workshops, one-on-one mentoring support, deep diving for customized clinical validation support, and business and investor connections.  IIT-Startup Kanpur's Incubation and Innovation Centre was founded in 2000, when entrepreneurship was still a developing currency, making it one of the country's oldest incubators.

More About NIRMAN Accelerator Programme:

The 6-month-long program will be devised into four segments:

• Principles of Product Growth

• Engineering Acceleration

• Navigating the Compliance Puzzle

• Leading to next-stage growth.

The program will offer Knowledge Workshops, One-on-one mentoring support, Diving deep into customized support for clinical validation, and Business and investor connections.