Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh is optimistic about the role of women-led startups in elevating India’s presence on the global stage in the near future. During the virtual inauguration of eight new NIDHI Inclusive Technology Business Incubators (i-TBIs) across the country and the launch of a new DST-NIDHI website at IIT Delhi, Dr. Singh underscored the critical importance of nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship. The newly established i-TBIs, which fall under the Department of Science and Technology’s NIDHI initiative, are situated at the Central University of Rajasthan, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary University Ludhiana, BLDE Bijapur, Aligarh Muslim University, Pranveer Singh Institute of Technology Kanpur, Guru Ghasidas University Bilaspur, GSSS Institute of Engineering Mysore, and the University of Petroleum & Energy Studies Dehradun. These incubators are designed to foster an entrepreneurial spirit among students, faculty, and local communities.
Additionally, Dr. Singh introduced the DST-GDC IIT Madras Incubate Program for Deep Tech Startups, a venture supported by prominent IIT Madras alumni, aimed at aiding innovators from Tier II and Tier III cities. He praised the success of the NIDHI program, which was launched in 2016 as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Startup India, Stand Up India initiative. This program has been instrumental in bridging the gap between academia and industry, providing structured support that has helped numerous tech startups, including many led by women. Dr. Singh highlighted the transformative potential of innovation in fields such as AI, Quantum Computing, and New Energy, envisioning India as a developed nation by 2047. He also emphasised that NIDHI helps transition intellectual properties from research labs to the marketplace, bolstering India’s self-reliance and economic growth, and reinforcing Prime Minister Modi’s vision of women entrepreneurs spearheading global innovation.
