Imphal: Chief Minister N. Biren Singh Thursday inaugurated a Start-Up Incubation Centre of Manipur Technical University temporary campus, Govt. Polytechnic Takyelpat, Imphal West which is supported by the Planning Department, Government of Manipur.
The incubation centre will guide and mentor identified and selected technology based start-ups.
Speaking as the Chief Guest of the function, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said this Incubation centre is very important as it will provide the basic training and help in materialising an idea, gain financial assistance for the idea, financial management, marketing, etc.
He explained that the Start-up programme is a dream of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put a check on the brain drain of talented youth to outside the country due to lack of facilities, environment, infrastructure, financial assistance.
Stressing that the Start-up programme has been beneficial to the State, the Chief Minister highlighted that till date, the government has provided financial assistance under the programme to more than 5200 (approx) start-ups.
Further in his brief speech, the Chief Minister expressed concern that people from all walks of life seem to be losing professional ethics, and showing more interest in working to their own advantage. We should work together for the present and future generations, he said.
N.Biren Singh said that he was impressed by the young students of the MTU, but at the same time felt sorry for the poor infrastructure of the university.
Calling upon all to keep the university’s campus and surroundings neat and clean, the Chief Minister assured proper infrastructure and also expressed that a site for the university has been identified and proposed DPR already submitted to the concerned Ministry and that construction of the university will begin once all necessary processes have been completed at the identified site.
The inaugural function was also attended by Education, RD&PR, MAHUD Minister Shri Yumnam Khemchand, Minister Shri L.Susindro Meitei, Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary Shri V. Vumlunmang, Manipur Technical University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Bhabeswar Tongbram, officials, faculties, 16 start-up beneficiaries, students among others.
The main aim of the incubation centre is to facilitate and incubate the start-ups selected through the Govt. of Manipur initiative, START-UP MANIPUR and others.
The incubation centre is in collaboration with Atal Incubation Center (AIC) -Sikkim Manipal University, Business incubation centre to handhold and provide technical expertise in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups. The program will be a 3-month Incubation/accelerator comprising Diagnostic Sessions, One-on-One Mentorship and Master classes and finally, culminating into a Demo Day where start-ups will pitch in front of a panel of Angel Investors/ Venture capital (VC) Firms/families Offices etc. for potential fundraising by the start-ups.
Meanwhile, after the inaugural session, the centre also conducted an interactive session and discussed the future prospects and outcomes with the 16 Entrepreneurs/start-ups assigned by the Planning Department to the centre.
