Chandigarh, January 16, 2025
For Detailed
Paying a grand tribute to the innovative spirit of Indian entrepreneurs, BioNEST and E-YUVA, Panjab University, Chandigarh, today celebrated the 9th National Startup Day at Panjab University.
The event saw the participation of more than 60 individuals, including startups, entrepreneurs, industry partners, faculty, and students, all of whom are stakeholders in the Startup India initiative. The BioNEST & E-YUVA teams are always ‘Thriving Infinite Innovation for India,’ honoring the transformative power of startups and their role in shaping the future of innovation.
Earlier, the event kicked off with a welcome address by Prof. Rohit Sharma, Project Leader of BioNEST-PU, who discussed India’s progress in the startup sector and highlighted the importance of incubators in fostering innovation and entrepreneurial skills. He emphasised the significance of this day as part of the vision of our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, for making India an Atma-Nirbhar Bharat.
The event featured a special address by Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director of the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), New Delhi, who focused on the importance of innovation in biotechnology. He explained how startups in this field have transformed their research into impactful products that benefit society and have helped upgrade India’s bioeconomy. His address underscored the significant opportunities available to entrepreneurs and emphasised BIRAC’s role in nurturing startups focused on improving healthcare, agriculture, and the environment.
Dr. Kumar elaborated on how BIRAC supports budding entrepreneurs by providing funding, mentorship, and incubation facilities. He also highlighted the importance of innovation and collaboration in building successful biotech startups, sharing inspiring examples of startups that have achieved success with BIRAC’s assistance. He provided an overview of the Indian biotech sector, highlighting its expected growth at a CAGR of 12.3% by 2030. Dr. Kumar discussed the key pillars of innovation and BIRAC’s support for startups, including schemes that assist at various stages, from ideation to proof of concept, as well as funding options like seed, LEAP, and ACE funds. He encouraged the audience to take advantage of BIRAC’s resources and contribute to making India a global leader in biotechnology.
Following this, the event was graced by Prof. Akash Deep, Scientist-G at the Institute of Nano Science & Technology, Mohali. He addressed the gathering on “Waste to Wealth Opportunities in Battery Recycling.” Prof. Deep offered a compelling perspective on the potential of recycling technologies and their contribution to both environmental sustainability and economic growth. He highlighted how innovative startups could address issues such as e-waste management while simultaneously creating wealth from waste. His address captivated the audience and sparked thoughtful discussions on the role of technology in solving global challenges.
One of the most inspiring parts of the event was the “Innovator Ki Kahani” session, where three entrepreneurs—Ms. Vaishnavi Harshad Parmar, Dr. Meenakshi Sharma, and Mr. Saransh Bhutani—shared their experiences with the budding entrepreneurs.
The event also included a declamation contest and poster presentation by students on the theme of the BioE3 policy. The young innovators were energised with new ideas for their research and future perspectives. The posters covered a wide range of topics, from technological advancements to social impact solutions, offering a platform for young minds to present their work and contribute to the ongoing dialogue around innovation in the biotech and sustainability sectors.
The event concluded with a valedictory function, celebrating the success of the day and emphasising the importance of promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. It also highlighted the collaboration between educational institutions, industry, and government agencies to support entrepreneurship.
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