IIIT Vadodara has introduced policies to promote innovation, which is covered under the institute’s intellectual property rights (IPR) policies. The innovation cell conducts seminars from time to time to create awareness regarding the activities of the cell, says Prof Sarat Kumar Patra, Director, IIIT Vadodara, in conversation with Elets News Network (ENN).
How the Student Startup & Innovation Policy (SSIP) of Gujarat Government is contributing to students’ innovation?
This is a welcome step taken by the Government of Gujarat to promote startups in the State as well in the country. Through SSIP students will get platform to showcase their ideas globally and the opportunities to interact with investors from financial point of view.
Having right skills and guidance plays a pivotal role for any startup. How IIIT Vadodara is helping student startups to get right mentorship, infrastructure along with funding for their innovation?
This year, we have initiated the innovation cell at IIIT Vadodara to facilitate the conversion of innovative ideas of our students into viable product. IIIT Vadodara is committed to provide amenities such as infrastructure, IT resources and funding for basic modules under the banner of innovation cell.
What are the initiatives taken by IIIT Vadodara to foster Student Startup ecosystem within the institute? What are the processes involved for the student to be eligible to receive grants and mentoring for their innovation?
Students send their ideas to the innovation cell. Based on the committee recommendation, students are eligible to get Institute funding for the same. The innovation cell committee monitors the progress and provides the proper guidance from time to time.
IIIT Vadodara is promoting student startup and innovation in a broader way. At IIIT Vadodara, we actively promote the culture of research and innovation. Although we are in a nascent stage, we are fully committed to make IIIT Vadodara an institution of innovators.
How is the IIIT Vadodara refining students’ ideas so that it can be converted into a prototype or a product? What assistance does the government provide to the student startups during the pre-incubation phase?
At IIIT Vadodara, we have innovation cell for the same. We ask students to send their ideas to the innovation cell in a proper format. A committee examines the ideas based on its novelty and gives its recommendation to the innovation cell incharge. Regarding the government assistance for the students’ startups, we are in the process of establishing the mechanism.
How many student startups have graduated from your institute? How IIT is planning to involve more students to take the advantage of its policies and facilities?
In the present scenario, students are working on some ideas including fully-formed startups to launch, while others are in line. We have introduced policies for the same which is covered under the institute’s intellectual property rights (IPR) policies. The innovation cell conducts seminars from time to time to create awareness regarding the activities of the cell.
What message would you give to our readers about the Student Startup & Innovation Policy adopted by the institute?
IIIT Vadodara is promoting student startup and innovation in a broader way. At IIIT Vadodara, we actively promote the culture of research and innovation. Although we are in a nascent stage, we are fully committed to make IIIT Vadodara an institution of innovators.
