Start-up India is a flagship initiative of the Government of India, intended to build a strong eco-system for nurturing innovation and start-ups in the country that will drive sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities. The Government through this initiative aims to empower start-ups to grow through innovation and design.
CSIR in association with NRDC (National Research Development Corporation) would be setting-up ‘Innovation-cum-Incubation Centres’ (IIC) at CSIR laboratories with the mandate of promoting innovations and start-ups.
The main aim of the IIC is to create and support an ecosystem for nurturing start-ups and MSMEs in aerospace and allied engineering, to add strength to the Make-in-India, Start-up India and Skill India programmes. Besides, the facilities, technologies, knowledgebase etc., from CSIR-NAL, Bengaluru, will be brought in for commercial exploitation to the potential start-ups and MSMEs for the introduction of novel products and services. This is an endeavour to bring in angel investors, venture capitalists, mentors as well as business consultants to enable entrepreneurs for start-ups and MSMEs to grow.
1. Key Responsibilities of NRDC & CSIR-NAL
NRDC through IIC
• In partnership with FISE — Social Alpha (to begin with) and other industries shall set-up IIC as Section 8 JV Company.
• IIC shall support and nurture entrepreneurs at the early stage in the areas of aerospace and allied technologies.
• IIC to assist entrepreneurs/start-ups by making use of infrastructure support, facilities, the knowledge base of CSIR-NAL, business mentoring and market support.
• Appointing management team for the smooth running of the IIC. The team will include CEO, COO, etc. who shall support the Board of IIC.
• IIC shall organise workshops, entrepreneurship development programmes, IPR programmes, etc. to promote entrepreneurship and start-ups culture in the Incubation Unit.
CSIR-NAL
• Provide space on rental basis for running IIC activities. The charges towards day-to-day maintenance, electricity, water, etc., shall be met by IIC.
• Provide necessary assistance to IIC to identify potential incubatees to use and exploit commercially viable technologies
• Utilisation of Lab facilities, knowledge expertise, consultancy, prototyping, etc., for incubatees @ CSIR cost basis applicable to Micro & Small firms.
• Licensing of patents/knowledge for commercialisation through NRDC and providing IP support to start-ups.
2. Business Model
Access
• Access to test labs facilitating validation of latest technologies, competitive technology licences.
• Access to in-house research labs and other collaborated labs and a mentor board with expertise on specific verticals of technology and business.
Enablement
• Training, Networking & Fund Raising — Accelerator programmes, workshops; seminars and networking events to expand incubatee market access, Fund raising assistance to incubatee companies; conferences and panel discussions on cutting-edge technologies; connect right channels to help members successfully scale-up; and connect members with angel and VC networks for next stage funding.
Support
• Value addition services like accounts, legal, financial, audit, company secretary, IP, etc.
• Assistance with certifications, accreditations, licencing, test standards, etc. and co-working space
Facilitate
• Identify start-up and help them succeed through a III Tier incubation model
i. Innovate
• Identify the pool of innovative technologies with the potential for non-linear impact.
ii. Incubate
• Assist identified companies on technical and business aspects.
• Offer all support services including mentorship, labs and equipment, access to partnerships, etc. Assist with the fund raising process.
iii. Accelerate
• Post validation of the product; support the start-up for generating impact with scale.
• Graduate the innovation outside the incubator, to be adopted by Philanthropic funds and Investors.
