There was a clear call for innovative ideas from India’s engineering students at the Texas Instruments – India Innovation Challenge Design Contest (TI-IICDC) 2018 which was launched at the NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) at IIM Bangalore on June 20, 2018. The event was also broadcast live on Facebook.The N.S. Raghavan Centre for Entreprenurial Learning (NSRCEL) is an incubator for entrepreneurial ideas. Representatives from Texas Instruments, NSRCEL and the Department of Science and Technology (DST) opened registrations for a new batch of fresh entrepreneurs to convert their ‘dreams into reality’ by entering the IICDC 2018. The registration page can be found on the MyGov portal on the TI-IICDCpage https://innovate.mygov.in/india-innovation-challenge-design-contest-2018/
The Director of TI India University program, Mr. Sanjay Srivastava, conveyed his excitement over the start of another innovation competition and announced the provision of funding, technology and stipends to the participants by Texas Instruments.
Next, the Chair of NSRCEL, Professor Suresh Bhagavatula, elaborated on the support that would be provided to the new entrepreneurs and the 150+ startups that have been supported since the NSRCEL came into existence in 2002. He quoted Steve Jobs saying that these startups were ‘putting a dent in the universe’. This competition is a wonderful opportunity for young minds to break away from finding a job to being their own bosses.
Dr. Anita Gupta, Advisor and Associate Head of the DST, reiterated the importance of such a platform in India today.
This year-long public-private partnership provides a platform for entrepreneurial talent to come in contact with academia, industry and the government creating the ideal environment for the development of innovative ideas in India. Twenty lakh rupees in seed funding will be provided to the top ten startups, five lakh rupees will be given for product development to select semi-finalist teams, other select semi-finalist teams will receive thirty thousand rupee stipends, TI tools worth seventy lakh rupees will be made available to the participants, fifty lakh rupees of cash prizes will be given out to the teams and more than fifteen thousand certificates will be awarded.
Thoughts convert to startups which bring forth innovation which can change lives. This is the critical role fulfilled by contests such as the TI-IICDC 2018.
Dr. Anita Gupta, Director and Associate Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, inaugurates India Innovation Challenge Design Contest 2018 website at the NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) at IIM Bangalore, on June 20.
Prof. Suresh Bhagavatula, Chair, NSRCEL, IIMB, Sanjay Srivastava, Director, Marketing, University Program at Texas Instruments, and Dr. Anita Gupta, Director and Associate Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, DST, Govt. of India at the launch.
