Highlighting the importance of providing a commercial platform for local grassroots innovators to help them launch their innovations, vice chancellor of Kashmir University Talat Ahmed on Monday said creating commercial viability of these ideas can help generate employment in Kashmir.
Addressing innovators from across Kashmir at a daylong workshop-cum-boot camp exhibition of ‘Startup India, J&K Yatra’, the VC said Kashmir University is ready to extend support to grassroots innovators.
“A lot of employment can be generated by adapting innovation to markets. I am glad that several innovations from Kashmir are witnessing a commercial viability and marketability,” said Talat.
The VC said that there is scope to empower local youth through innovative efforts like “Startup India”. “Kashmiri youth are highly innovative and very receptive to new initiatives. I assure the organisers of our support for all efforts leading to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) generation and entrepreneurship growth,” he said.
The VC stressed on encouraging local level innovations saying that innovations can come with novel products to suit local needs. “You must keep innovating and find new things that can help to solve local day-to-day daily life problems,” he said.
“There is an important need to bring technology and knowledge together. We have a great role to help innovators especially from far flung areas,” Prof Talat.
Talat also appreciated Entrepreneurship Development Cell, National Innovation Foundation, Kashmir University and JKEDI for jointly organised the ‘One day Workshop-cum-Boot Camp’ for idea pitching in which large number of students, entrepreneurs and innovators from valley participated. The objective of workshop-cum-Boot camp was to scout innovative business ideas from students, innovators and entrepreneurs so that the ideas could be incubated as startups and awarded under startup initiative of J&K. The workshop was attended by faculty members, students and officers of the Kashmir University as well as innovators, entrepreneurs and faculty members of other valley based institutions and organizations.
Dean Academic Affairs, Kashmir University, MA Sahaf spoke on various facets of startup policy.
“Government should tailer the existing startup policy to suit the local entrepreneurs. A startup is based on an innovation and leads to problem solving in the society,” Sahaf said.
GM Bhat, Director, Institute of Technology and advisor EDC signified the importance of technology innovation and IPR with regard to startup initiative. “With the support of National Innovation Foundation, the NIF Cell at University of Kashmir has filed 65 patents in favour of Kashmiri innovators. J&K government should strengthen the platform of technology innovation and IPR at University of Kashmir,” said Bhat who was critical about lack of support from the state government for innovation eco-system and IPR facilitation in the state. An innovation exhibition was also held in which creative innovations such as walnut peeler and cracker, a diaper that makes a sound when a child urinates and several innovations on road safety were showcased.