Hummingbird News Desk
GUWAHATI, 27 MAY: Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) has taken a significant step in nurturing the entrepreneurial landscape of the Northeast region by signing two pivotal Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) today. The MoUs, signed with Assam Startup through Assam Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (AIIDC) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), aim to foster innovation, support startups, and enhance industry-academia collaboration.
The formalization of these MoUs was marked by a ceremony at the IIT Guwahati campus. The agreements were signed by Prof. Devendra Jalihala, Director of IIT Guwahati, Mr. Chinmoy Prakash Phookan, ACS, Managing Director of AIIDC, and Mr. Sumeet Gupta, Assistant Secretary-General of FICCI. The event witnessed the presence of distinguished dignitaries including Mr. Rajarshi Sarma, COO of Assam Startup, Mr. Kankan Jyoti Khargharia, Community Manager, along with key faculty members from IIT Guwahati.
The MoU with Assam Startup, facilitated by AIIDC, underscores a collective effort to promote entrepreneurship through access to technology, industry, innovation, and value-added programs.
Mr. Chinmoy Prakash Phookan, ACS, Managing Director of AIIDC, highlighted, “AIDC, as the nodal agency for the development of the startup ecosystem under the Government of Assam, is proud to announce the signing of an MoU with IIT Guwahati. This partnership identifies core areas for collaboration aimed at fostering a strong and vibrant startup ecosystem in the region.”
The MoU with FICCI aims to create a framework supporting entrepreneurial activities focused on agriculture, women development, and sustainability in the Northeast region. Mr. Sumeet Gupta, Assistant Secretary-General of FICCI, stated, “FICCI aims to play a pivotal role in empowering startups in the Northeast, driving economic growth, and positioning the Northeast region as a significant contributor to the nation’s economy on a global stage.”
Prof. Senthilmurugan Subbiah, Faculty in-charge of IITG – Technology Incubation Centre, remarked, “This innovative catalyst will unite the seven states under one umbrella, significantly enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem. It will multiply the number of successful entrepreneurs emerging from the Northeast region of India, fostering unprecedented growth and collaboration.”
Complementing the MoUs, IIT Guwahati launched a 6-week residential bootcamp for 51 startup participants from the Northeast. The program is designed to provide a robust platform for aspiring entrepreneurs, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge. It features extensive expert sessions, mentoring support, and financial aid opportunities, aimed at ensuring success in the competitive startup ecosystem.
Prof. Devendra Jalihala, Director of IIT Guwahati, expressed optimism about these collaborations, stating, “IIT Guwahati is proud to serve as a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship in the northeastern region and the entire country. Through our recent collaborations with FICCI and Assam Startup, we are hopeful that the collective measures and initiatives we aim to provide will help foster a vibrant ecosystem where budding entrepreneurs can transform their innovative ideas into successful businesses.”
Tags: #IITGuwahati #MoU #FICCI #AssamStartup #AIIDC