Department of Innovation and Technology (DIT)

Leveraging Technologies for Societal Welfare

EDII has been working closely with government departments like the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) to promote technology-led entrepreneurship through various activities, capacity-building programmes, impact assessment studies and other interventions. To strengthen efforts in this domain, there is a need for a holistic, coherent, and sustainable approach to leveraging technologies for societal welfare through entrepreneurship development. Against this backdrop, the Department of Innovation and Technology (DIT) will further promote, nurture and leverage the power of Science, Technology and Innovations, in entrepreneurship.

Objectives

Stimulate inclusive, affordable and accessible technology-led entrepreneurship, reaching underserved communities and rural areas and fostering innovation that addresses local challenges.

Research multiple facets and perspectives of Technology Entrepreneurship, and provide evidence for relevant policies and interventions.

Facilitate existing MSMEs in adoption of best practices and transfer of technologies.

Facilitate collaborations and partnerships that bridge gaps in knowledge and resources, with the goal of promoting local capabilities and businesses, particularly MSMEs and startups.

Enhance capacity, skills and knowledge, emphasising frugal, grassroots innovations and appropriate technologies.

Promote innovations, incubations and technology-based startup initiatives.

Landmarks

Capacity Building Initiatives

Online and offline educational programmes, certificate courses and short-term modules covering commercialization, entrepreneurship, intellectual property rights, etc., for diverse stakeholders, including scientists, researchers, faculty, students, women, SMEs and startups, focusing on technology adoption, transfer and innovation. Strategic and emerging technologies like AI, ML, biotechnology, blockchain, have been incorporated in programme design to empower entrepreneurs in these fields.

Collaborative efforts to promote Technopreneurship

  • Collaborations with technical universities, research institutions and corporates to bridge the gap between research and application, particularly in emerging technologies and sectors. Interactive seminars and regional-level workshops to provide applied knowledge of technology entrepreneurship across emerging areas.
  • Alliances with technical universities, innovation hubs, industry associations and multilateral organizations are needed to share best practices and models of innovation and technology entrepreneurship, as well as joint interventions and exchange programmes.
  • Engagement with government departments and civil society groups to support national priorities related to innovation and technology entrepreneurship, contributing to the vision of a knowledge-driven economy.

Entrepreneurship Development Activities

The Department provides support and guidance to various target groups to simplify their entrepreneurial activities through technology adoption, focusing on sectors like agriculture, women-led enterprises, and youth startups.

Strengthen Incubation Activities

The Department works towards enhancing existing incubation centres like CrAdLE and EDII-AIC Foundation at EDII, focusing on partnering with industry chambers and institutions to disseminate Science Technology & Innovations related skills and knowledge. MSMEs are counselled on  technology adoption & transfer.

MILESTONES

First Five Years (2025 - 2030)

Collaborate with various technology institutions/labs/R&D Centres to facilitate technology adoption as well as develop certificate/online/short term/awareness programmes on tech-entrepreneurship.

Develop a dedicated web portal on S&T, focusing on local, national as well as global perspectives and trends.

Facilitate and promote thematic programmes for aspiring entrepreneurs in Science, Technology & Innovation in emerging sectors.

Handhold SMEs to benefit from indigenous and futuristic technologies for efficiency and sustainability.

Next Five Years

Develop technology adoption facilitation units, across relevant clusters and regions, in collaboration with regional offices and relevant institutions, to support SMEs.

Develop a comprehensive business profile bank, based on cutting-edge technologies.

Strengthen incubation centres at EDII for scaling up startups from incubation to acceleration.

Establish an S&T Entrepreneurship Monitoring Centre.