23-Sep-2019: Government plans to set up a National Genomic Grid
Government has announced its plan to set up a National Genomic Grid, which will study genomic data of cancer patients from India.
The grid to be formed will be in line with the National Cancer Tissue Biobank (NCTB) set up at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. The initiative will be taken forward based on the standard operating procedures set by IIT Madras and guidance from ICMR. The grid will have four parts, with the country divided into east, west, north and south.
Benefits: It will collect samples from cancer patients to study genomic factors influencing cancer and identifying the right treatment modalities for the Indian population. The genomic samples will help researches to have India-specific studies on cancers. NGG will enhance the cancer research to the next level and make treatment viable for people of different economic classes.
The government is planning to set up the National Genomic Grid in the same style with pan-India collection centres by bringing all cancer treatment institutions on board.
2-Feb-2022: Status of National Initiative for Design Innovation (NIDI)
Government launched the scheme of “National Initiative for Design Innovation (NIDI)” in March, 2014. Scheme envisaged establishment of 20 Design Innovation Centres (DIC), One Open Design School (ODS) and One National Design Innovation Network (NDIN) across the country for promoting the culture of innovation, design and creative problem-solving. Presently, 20 DICs have been established on Hub-Spoke Model with 64 Spokes. DIC Hubs include 10 Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), 9 Central/State Government Universities and a School of Planning and Architecture. ODS and NDIN have been established in IIT, Bombay and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore respectively.
The NIDI scheme does not provide the allocation of funds to any specific district. DICs are established by co-locating them in existing publicly funded institutes of national reputes, like IIT’s, NIT’s, Central and State universities, to facilitate optimal utilization of the existing resources including faculty and infrastructure with a funding of Rs.10.00 Cr. for each DIC. Institutes are selected for setting up of DICs on the basis of the thematic areas to be worked upon, innovative ideas/products to be developed under the scheme, discipline of institute.
The objective of the scheme is to promote a culture of innovation and creative problem-solving. It is envisaged that these DICs would not only focus on the spread of design education but also propel the R&D activities in design that become the catalyst for devising innovative solutions to societal challenges suiting Indian conditions. DICs have been developing the culture of design innovation in the country and continuously creating an atmosphere where students and community come together to make a difference in human life. Under the scheme, More than 50 start-ups have been initiated/supported, around 2000 innovative products initiated/delivered and approximately 250 patents are filed.
27-Jul-2022: 604 aspiring entrepreneurs or startups have been supported so far under National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI)- Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR) program
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said, 604 aspiring entrepreneurs or startups have been supported so far under National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI)- Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR) program.
In a statement laid on the table of the Lok Sabha, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the grants have been disbursed in the form of fellowship to the selected aspiring entrepreneurs or startups across the country through a network of 29 Technology Business Incubator (TBIs) who act as a program implementation partner for NIDHI EIR program.
Entrepreneurs-in- Residence (EIR) is the program introduced under the umbrella of National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) by Department of Science & Technology (DST) in the financial year 2016-17. This program aims to inspire and provide support to S&T qualified persons who aspire to be an entrepreneur and has an innovative idea. The NIDHI EIR program is positioned as a pre-incubation program to generate new pipeline of entrepreneurs or startups.
The main objective of NIDHI EIR program is to encourage graduating students to take entrepreneurship instead of seeking jobs. The selected NIDHI-EIR support recipient (aspiring entrepreneurs/startups) is eligible for grant up to Rs.30,000/- per month for a period of 12 months. This fellowship is extendable up to 18 months in case of deserving candidates. Since the launch of NIDHI EIR program grant of Rs.19.03 crore has been disbursed to 604 number of aspiring entrepreneur or startups.
2-Sep-2020: NIDHI-EIR Brochure featuring Entrepreneurs in Residence launched
A brochure featuring Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) under the National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) programme was launched by DST Secretary Professor Ashutosh Sharma at the National Get-Together of NIDHI-EIR Family.
“NIDHI-EIR program is an example of innovative tweaking of the fellowship processes that make it possible to be effective,” said Professor Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology at the event organized by Venture Centre, the National Implementation Partner for NIDHI- Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR) program of the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
“The goal of achieving Aatmanirbharta starts with translation of knowledge, innovation, capacity building, workforce, Industries, and markets. It is a whole chain starting from the knowledge and goes on to markets. The NIDHI-EIR Program conceived to inspire the S&T qualified youth in India to take up entrepreneurship as a viable career and help shape India's future and the economy,” he added.
Dr. Anita Gupta, Head NSTEDB, elaborated on the success of the NIDHI-EIR program highlighting that the two editions of the EIR program has shown overwhelming impacts and has resulted in 65% conversion into startups.
She added that EIR happens to be the very starting component in the bouquet of programmes offered under NIDHI. In the years to come, it will have a much more fruitful impact. “The current COVID situation has further given us time to facilitate the kind of offering and connect needed with industry to scale up the startup ecosystem,” she pointed out.
The brochure brought out by Venture Center, details what the EIRs are working on and some highlights about them. It is also meant to be a directory of all EIRs. All contributing project execution partners are also featured in the brochure. The brochure also has a summary number of results and impact.
In Round 1 and 2 editions of the NIDHI-EIR program has coordinated with roughly 12 Project Execution Partners (incubators) that host EIR fellows. These 2 rounds of EIR calls had representation from 225 EIR fellows from 22 states of India, 68% of the fellows were below 30 years of age. A total of 146 companies have been formed with 65% conversion to startups, 711 jobs created, 65 patents, 45 trademarks, 19 copyrights created,146 initial prototypes developed. DST’s investment in Round 1 and 2 of the calls amounted to Rs 874 lakhs and follow on funding raised by EIR fellows from non-NIDHI programs is Rs 2300 lakhs.
Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR) Programme under National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing innovations (NIDHI) of Department of Science and Technology supports aspiring or budding entrepreneur of considerable potential for pursuing a promising technology business idea over a period up to 18 months with a subsistence grant up to Rs 30000 per month with a maximum cap for total support of Rs 3.6 lakh to each EIR over a maximum of 18 months. The programme aims to provide guidance to these aspiring entrepreneurs from experienced, innovative and highly successful entrepreneurs on the business concept strategy and insight into specific industries or markets, inspire the best talents to be entrepreneurs, to minimise the risk involved in pursuing start-ups, and to partially set off their opportunity costs of high paying jobs. The NIDHI-EIR programme provides tremendous opportunities for innovative entrepreneurs to expand their networks and get critical feedback on their ventures in order to promote their entrepreneurial career goals and aspirations. This program is important in that it creates a pipeline of startups with a focus on young budding entrepreneurs.