Showing posts with label Startup Ecosystems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Startup Ecosystems. Show all posts

EU Launches Innovation Platform, Incubator Network in India to Promote Startups, Innovators

The European Union (EU) has launched Innovation Platform in India yesterday at Delhi. The platform is an initiative between India and Europe that seeks to bring together innovators, start-ups and incubators from both sides for interaction. The aim is to foster innovation cooperation between India and Europe.

EU India incubator/accelerator network was also launched, which will be for startups from both the regions to explore opportunities for co-creation of products and solutions that have socio-economic impact for both EU and India.

The incubator/accelerator network will match organisations from both regions and bring relevant organisations together in two networking events in India and two networking events in Europe -- between 2018 and 2020.

This platform will also support and speed up the commitments which the EU and India have taken in the areas -- Clean energy, Circular Energy, Water Partnership and Sustainable Urbanization & Smart Cities.

In addition, participants had an opportunity to exchange views with a panel of EU and Indian authorities and experts on innovation, taking into account each other's ecosystem and strategic agenda. A panel consisting of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Department of Biotechnology for this occasion represented by BIRAC (the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, a Government of India enterprise) NITI Aayog and Invest India, outlined the ecosystem in India and the role and modalities for international cooperation on innovation. Several actors shared their experience and best practices in cooperating between Europe and India.

The Platform meeting listened also to the first findings of the meeting of Incubators from Europe and India who met for two days in Bengaluru on 8 and 9 October 2018 and who all welcomed the opportunity to meet and share ideas on how co-creation can improve and be facilitated. Both learned a lot from each other and considered that support for further interaction and matchmaking would be essential.

As a result of this collaboration between network participants and other stakeholders, the mutual understanding of each region’s innovation system and way of doing business increased among network participants.




From the brainstorming session and different working groups constituted under the Platform, some ideas for further action already emerged. The EU is now committed to pursue the dialogue with India both at the level of the innovation actors from private sector and public sector to see how, for example, co-working space for European starts-ups in India could be organised, co-organise European start-up events in India and bring Indian start-ups to Europe and advocate better innovation framework conditions for European innovators to the Government of India.

On this occasion, EU Ambassador Tomasz Kozlowski said that "Expanding the EU-India strategic partnership with the innovation dimension, through the creation of this Innovation Platform, will strengthen further and modernise the cooperation between Europe and India. He added that this Platform will also support and speed up the commitments which the EU and India have taken in the areas of clean energy, circular energy, water partnership or sustainable urbanisation and smart cities."

Ms Signe Ratso, Deputy Director General, Research and Innovation, European Commission, who is visiting India on this occasion said that she was very impressed with what she has seen and learned on the Indian innovation ecosystem and hoped that following this pilot initiative, "the EU will engage in a dialogue with India to see how both sides can take actions to enhance the EU-India innovation partnership as our leaders mandated to do in October 2017. Engaging together in innovation is investing in the future and speed up the need to find solutions to the real-world problems. She added that the EU-India Incubators and Accelerators Network launched in Bengaluru will create synergies and co-create new innovation to tackle challenges both regions are facing."

The innovation activities launched by the European Union will reinforce European presence and visibility in India in the area of Innovation. It will increase the impact of the European Member States innovation activities and foster access of India for European innovators and entrepreneurs and vice-versa.

Ultimately, innovators from India and Europe will be able to work together, jointly find solutions that will tackle global challenges such as water scarcity, climate change, food and energy security.

To recall, in June this year India's Union science & technology minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan, had announced that India will soon have its first international incubator for clean energy, coming up in capital city of Delhi. It is not clear that this EU, India partnership is part of that announcement or not, since no announcement of clean energy incubator has been made yet.

Source - Eeas.europa.eu/delegations/india/

How Chennai Startups Are Playing Heroes For India's Troubled Economy

Chennai's startup scene has seen a slow but steady growth over the years. While there have been sharp ups and downs seen in other Indian Startup ecosystems, Chennai's Startup ecosystem has always held its ground and as a result of, it is now emerging as a thriving startup ecosystem. From hi-tech labs housed within research institutions to 24x7 active co-working spaces, Chennai has it all.

Over a period of last 6-7 years, Chennai has been successful in establishing its name as an enterprise or SaaS (Software as a Service) hub. In fact, it has been witnessed that even the investors who grace the city for a pitch, most often make a request for SaaS companies before going for their meetings with the founders. According to Venture Intelligence's Arun Natarajan's statement to a national daily, Zoho and Freshdesk can be credited for establishing a clear branding in the favour of Chennai city.

The city isn't just home to business models that have been tried and tested in other Startup ecosystems. While there's no denying the fact that established business models are aplenty in the city, but Chennai is also a welcome place for new business models. Incubators like The Startup Centre, the Paypal Startank, IIT-M Research Park and Anna University Incubator have provided a great atmosphere of innovation and research to aid budding entrepreneurs in coming up with new, out-of-the box ideas.

Chennai has also caught the fancy of various famous industry bodies like CII, Nasscom etc. The city witnesses sessions for city entrepreneurs being arranged by the CII and The Indus Entrepreneurs. Last year saw Naascom opening the door of its Tidel Park warehouse to 13 startups, which included names like Furnify, Klenty and Paperflite.

Akshay Sasikumar, Manager of 10,000 startups, Nasscom feels that Chennai has seen a flurry of startup activity after the opening of the Startup warehouse. He also added that, since inception Nasscom has been working as a facilitator for startups to get connected to the industry, and the body strives to do the same for the Chennai ecosystem.

According to Pick Your Trail's co-founder Hari Ganapathy's statement to TOI, the Chennai Startup ecosystem is finally taking shape. Events, group discussions, and an active angel community, which are some of elements considered crucial for a startup ecosystem, have now all come together in Chennai.

While everything seems to be going on smoothly, some startups feel that the city's infrastructure needs to be improved drastically. This is mainly because infrastructure plays an important supportive role in the success of a startup ecosystem, and for the Chennai startup ecosystem to be able to compete at a global level, the city will have to do something about its infrastructure issues.

So, while India's economy currently flounders, the Chennai Startup ecosystem seems to have its back.

T-Hub Launches T-Bridge – An Initiative to Connect Startup Ecosystems from Around the World to India

T-Hub, India’s largest startup ecosystem builder, in partnership with Uber and TiE Silicon Valley today announced the launch of T-Bridge, a new program that will connect Indian startups with global market opportunities, and help bring global startups to India. T-Bridge will enable startup communities in India and around the world to cross-pollinate ideas, innovate and create channels for knowledge transfer. It will also create a network of mentors, VCs, incubators and accelerators that is advantageous to the Indian startup ecosystem.

Telangana is now recognized as one of the world’s leading destinations for startups within India. The city of Hyderabad offers some of India’s best infrastructure, a large and growing technology talent pool, and a vibrant, cosmopolitan international community. Of particular significance to innovative tech startups worldwide is Telangana’s great position as a gateway to leveraging India’s massive technology markets. Startups can hit the ground running instead of being buried in red tape. T-Bridge will provide a platform for such fast-track tech companies looking to tap into India’s huge consumer market for technology. T-Bridge will help startups access UberEXCHANGE, Uber’s flagship startup mentorship program and TiE Silicon Valley’s mentor network.

Shri K T Rama Rao, Telangana Cabinet Minister for IT E&C, MAUD, Industries & Commerce, Public Enterprises, Mines & Geology, Sugar and NRI Affairs inaugurated T-Bridge in association with Uber and TiE Silicon Valley at Uber’s headquarters in San Francisco.

Mr. Rao stated, “We have a strong vision to make Hyderabad one of the top 10 startup cities in the world. T–Bridge is one such move towards opening a channel of investment from the world to the state of Telangana. I am proud to open our first outpost in the U.S. in association with Uber and TiE Silicon Valley and believe that this association will forge new partnerships and spur investment and innovation between the two countries”.

Mr. Ram K. Reddy, incoming President of TiE Silicon Valley stated at the inauguration, “The Telangana government has been one of India’s most progressive states. The vitality and transformational mindset of its leadership gained quick notoriety within the startup world. TiE Silicon Valley is pleased to host the first T-Bridge outpost in Silicon Valley.”

Rachel Whetstone, Uber’s senior vice president for policy and communications, said, “Telangana is one of the most progressive states in India; and it has set up a culture of ‘regulatory incubation’ — allowing new ideas and business models to thrive. Today more and more people around the world want to build something themselves. Through initiatives like UberEXCHANGE, our mentorship program for Indian startups, we hope to spur entrepreneurship. Creative partnerships like T-Bridge will continue to strengthen ties between India and the global startup scene.”

Jay Krishnan CEO, T-Hub said, “Since the launch of T-Hub last year, we’ve witnessed a threefold increase in startup activity in Hyderabad. The city is abuzz with over 30 incubators and co-working spaces. There is something happening in every corner. We’re committed to enabling and growing this community and to helping Indian entrepreneurs access global resources. T-Bridge is one such initiative in that direction. We are proud to set up our first outpost in the heart of the startup activity – at Silicon Valley”.

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