MUMBAI/PUNE: Governor of Maharashtra and Chancellor of Universities, Vidyasagar Rao handed over the letter of intent for incubation centres to 16 universities, one among which was Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) during the launch of ‘Startup India-Maharashtra Yatra’ on Wednesday.
The Start-up India-Maharashtra Yatra will travel to 14 districts and hold 14 boot camps to encourage students for entrepreneurship.
“It will help young innovators from universities and rural areas to transform their ideas into startups,” said Rao. He also asked the vice chancellors of all universities to create innovation hubs in their campuses and collaborate with Maharashtra Innovation Society.
“The government’s intention is to reach out to the tier II and III cities in every district and promote and make students aware about startups. One such drive will be held in Pune district as well and SPPU will help in it. We have received a grant which will facilitate us to build an incubation centre and empower students for entrepreneurship,” said the Director of incubation, innovation and international links, Apoorva Palkar, who received the letter in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Under this initiative, the university has received a grant of Rs five crore from Maharashtra State Innovative Society (MSInS) to run the incubation centre and develop startup companies which are self-sustaining and generate opportunities for students.
Describing Maharashtra as the startup capital of India, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said “The State government will create a proper ecosystem for the growth of startups in the state. While universities are the breeding grounds for innovative ideas, it will be the biggest contributors to startups. Startups will generate a large number of employment opportunities in the State.”
Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Suresh Prabhu said that while existing companies are slipping out of the Fortune 500 list, many new startup companies are entering into the list. Welcoming the initiative of Startup India Maharashtra Yatra, Prabhu expressed the need to turn startup yatra into a movement.
FUND FOR SPPU
Under this initiative, the university has received a grant of Rs five crore from Maharashtra State Innovative Society (MSInS) to run the incubation centre and develop startup companies.
