Lucknow: The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur is playing a pivotal role in advancing chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision to establish UP as a major start-up ecosystem, said Prof Deepu Philip, in charge at IITK’s Startup Incubation & Innovation Centre (SIIC).Addressing a session at Viksit UP 2047, Prof Philip said IIT-K is emerging as a strong start-up hub. “Currently, 521 start-ups at SIIC are proving their mettle and establishing themselves as powerful economic drivers for the country. They are also working to establish UP as a new capital of innovation,” he said.He said, “The partnership between the govt and the institution has made IIT-K a platform where ideas are directly connected to industry and the market”.Currently, IIT-K is the only incubator centre in the country that not only provides space and resources for start-ups but also acts as its own mentor. “Here, a faculty member is assigned as a mentor to help the start-ups grow. Start-ups are provided with a complete ecosystem, from technical guidance and business modelling to product development, market access and connections with investors,” he said.He said that in line with the ‘Make in India‘ and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, ideas on hardware, electronics, defence production, agri-tech, clean energy and advanced manufacturing are being transformed into large businesses.“Drones manufactured by a drone manufacturing start-up located on the IIT-K campus were used during ‘Operation Sindoor’. Start-ups here also played a significant role during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
