Registration is open for participation in the Open Challenge Program from 21st July 2020 and the last date for submission of application is 31st August 2020
KRC TIMES Desk
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) has launched OctaNE, a bouquet of eight internetworked Centre of Excellences (CoEs) to support technology led innovation in North East India. Locations wise CoEs are IoT in Agriculture (Guwahati), Animation (Shillong), Emerging Technologies (AR/VR) (Imphal), IT in Healthcare (Gangtok), GIS Including Drone Technology (Itanagar), Graphics (Kohima), Data Analytics (Agartala) and Gaming (Aizawl) along with an “Open Challenge Program” to identity, recognize & reward aspiring and early-stage tech entrepreneurs. This platform facilitates aspiring entrepreneurs /start-ups/innovators with strategic networking, seed funding, mentoring, providing support for training, marketing, patenting, access to the CoE labs, tools, software and state-of-the-art incubation facility.
Dr. Omkar Rai, Director General, STPI has digitally launched OctaNE and “Open Challenge Program” in the presence of Rajiv Kumar, Joint Secretary, MeitY, Kumaran Venkatesh, Chief Mentor for CoE in Guwahati & Partner, AXLerateNOW, Biren Ghose, Chief Mentor for CoE in Shillong & Country Head, Technicolor, Prabir Kumar Das, Director, STPI-Guwahati, Subodh Sachan, Director STPI-HQ, Gautam Kumar, Dy. Director, STPI-Guwahati and other dignitaries.
In the North-Eastern states of India, OctaNE is expected to accommodate 164 start-ups under phase-1 & phase 2 together (74+90) in emerging technologies in the field of Electronics and IT by providing financial/ technical assistance and mentoring support & will create direct employment for over 1,250 local youth (in-house units only). Further, direct employment in graduated units is expected to reach over 4,000 by Year-15 on a conservative basis. In addition, the local start-ups will be able to avail of good quality incubation facility to start operations without investing capital for the same.
The start-ups will be mentored by a group of accomplished industry and academic pioneers, led by Kumaran Venkatesh, Chief Mentor for CoE in Guwahati & Partner, AXLerateNOW and Biren Ghose, Chief Mentor for CoE in Shillong & Country Head, Technicolor and aided by a strong governing council (GC) and project management group (PMG) consisting of top technology industrialists, investors and academicians.
Several Academic Partners and Govt. entities have already come on board, including IIT Guwahati, IIIT Guwahati, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, Assam Agricultural University, Assam Rajiv Gandhi University of Cooperative Management, Assam Don Bosco University, Tea Board India, IIM Shillong, NIT Meghalaya, North Eastern Hill University, IIIT Manipur, NIT Manipur, Manipur University and NIELIT etc.
The objective of opening this CoEs is to boost start-ups and to contribute to “Make-in-India” and “Digital India” programmes of Govt. of India. It will create a holistic eco-system for encouraging R&D, innovation and entrepreneurship by the creation of robust eco-system & Incubate minimum of 164 number of start-ups, facilitating e-Commerce activities from the region, creation of employment opportunities through new innovative start-up units in NER, creation of entrepreneurs platform to enable networking, knowledge sharing and co-learning and developing tinkering and innovation culture amongst students and professionals.
During the launch of OctaNE, Dr. Omkar Rai, Director General, STPI said that Startups can access mentors, capital fund, market and the entire world-class infrastructure in OctaNE CoEs, so they can sit together and create world-class IPRs. We are creating state-of-the-art infrastructure and enabling support systems for start-ups for creating innovative products. By this, Indian start-ups and companies can take a lead and become a world leader in these domains. The environment we have created in the North Eastern region of India will foster entrepreneurship.
Dr. Omkar Rai, Director General, STPI has digitally launched OctaNE and “Open Challenge Program”
Open Challenge Program (OCP)
The start-ups having an innovative idea/solution in relevant fields/domain are encouraged to apply for OctaNE OCP. After receiving the innovative ideas/solutions as per prescribed format within the specified timeline a screening process will be done on the basis of relevancy. The relevant submissions will be shortlisted and called for selection through pitching/ presentation.
Registration is open for participation in the Open Challenge Program from 21st July 2020 and the last date for submission of application is 31st August 2020, according to an STPI release. For submitting the application online, visit https://octane.stpi.in.
