New Delhi, March 21st, 2018: The 2018 edition of the India Innovation Growth Programme 2.0 aimed at developing entrepreneurship in India will be launched today at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of Shri Ram Nath Kovind, President of India. Established by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, Lockheed Martin Corporation & Tata Trusts, the India Innovation Growth Programme 2.0 was launched in 2017.
Aimed at accelerating indigenous innovations through incubation of affordable, accessible and acceptable solutions, this unique programme offers an opportunity for innovators across India to bring breakthrough ideas to market in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, water, energy, life sciences, aeronautics, biotechnology, chemistry, communications, computing, defense, electronics, information technology, manufacturing, materials, nanotechnology, petrochemicals, semiconductors and transportation.
IIGP 2.0 has already met with early success. Five of the 2017 winners have begun to market their products in India and overseas. Two others have conducted field trials, while three have successfully created a proof of concept and product validation.
The IIGP is the only public-private partnership of its kind in India and spawns potential successes by training innovators in world-class strategies, promoting incubation and acceleration support, and assisting in business development.
Speaking at the occasion, Harkesh Mittal, Programme Head of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Tech. Commercialization, Department Science & Technology, Government of India, said, “DST has been a long standing partner in a unique collaborative program IIGP. I hope in this year also, IIGP 2.0 would outperform its past laurels and provide excellent support in nurturing and transforming innovative ideas to successful enterprises.”
Mr. Phil Shaw, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin India, added, “Lockheed Martin has been a proud sponsor and supporter of the India Innovation Growth Programme since 2007. The IIGP continues to prove itself as a hallmark model of government and industry working hand-in-hand to unleash the power and potential of Indian innovators.”
Manoj Kumar, Head, Entrepreneurship and Innovations, Tata Trusts, added, “At Tata Trusts, we are always looking for innovators and entrepreneurs who are on a mission to improve quality of life, especially for the underprivileged and deprived. The India Innovation Growth Programme 2.0 has been revolutionary in its discovery of young and highly motivated innovators who want to create large scale social impact with their high quality solutions that are also affordable and accessible.”
The IIGP has two separate tracks. A University Challenge, aimed at students, is complemented by an Open Innovation Challenge, aimed at innovators and entrepreneurs across the country. Each track focuses on identifying and supporting both industrial and social innovations. IIGP holds parallel challenges each year, supporting innovations through three phases of Ideation, Innovation and Acceleration.
Shortlisted winners will be sent for an international exposure visit to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, USA.
IIGP 2.0 is implemented by several supporting partners; Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, Center for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship at IIM Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and Tata Center for Technology and Design at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The last date to apply to the Open Innovation Challenge and to the University Challenge May 18th, 2018. Applicants can refer to www.indiainnovates.in to know more and to apply for the challenge.
Results of IIGP 2.0 2017
- In its first edition last year, IIGP 2.0, saw nine University Challenge teams and 10 individuals under Open Innovation Challenge awarded a total support of USD 500,000 for innovations in the areas of medicine, healthcare, water, agriculture and aeronautics, among others.
- After being shortlisted, winners received mentorship during a boot camp held at the Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship at the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad. They also received exposure to advanced training ecosystems in Boston, US as well as a visit to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology USA.
- Since then, five winners from the Open Innovation Challenge: Innovision, Taraltec, NoPo Technologies, Airpix, Vacus Technologies, have secured one or more customers in India and abroad. These innovative solutions span across multiple areas such as health, water, aerospace, nanotechnology etc.
- Two winners, Azooka Life Sciences & NoPo Nano Technologies, have filed for patents in India, Japan, Korea and Europe, while another two, Innovision & Module Innovations, have been invited to showcase their products at international forums in New York and London.
- The product of one University Challenge (UC) winner from the University of Petroleum & Energy Studies has reached the manufacturing stage; two winners from the Institute of Chemical Technology have conducted field trials, while three winners from IIT Kanpur, IIT Bombay and MH Saboo Siddik College of Engineering have successfully created proofs of concept. The UC winners were assisted with mentorship for product development and a design thinking workshop at IIT, Bombay.
- The winning innovations of IIGP 2.0 last year provided technologies with the ability to facilitate the strategic missions of the Government of India, including, Swachh Bharat – Clean India, Green India, Make in India, Digital India, and the recently adopted Healthy India.
