RONO HILLS, 11 Sep: A 'startup awareness seminar' was organised by the computer science and engineering (CSE) department of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) here on Friday to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and startup culture among researchers and students.
The seminar was organised by the DST-Technology Enabling Centre (TEC) of RGU, in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), RGU, and the departments of CSE and electronics & communication engineering (ECE), with support from the Union Science and Technology Ministry.
Addressing the gathering during the inaugural session, RGU's Controller of Examinations & Registrar (i/c) Dr Bijay Raji emphasised the university's commitment to nurturing an entrepreneurial mindset among students and researchers.
He encouraged the youths of Arunachal Pradesh to take the lead in developing a vibrant startup ecosystem in the state, and to explore innovative solutions to local challenges.
Delivering the keynote address and the expert's talk titled 'Startup Awareness: From Problems to Scalable Solutions', Union Science & Technology Department's expert advisory group member P Ravi Kumar elaborated the startup journey from identifying real-world problems and understanding customer needs to validating ideas, building sustainable enterprises and scaling viable businesses.
He particularly highlighted the opportunities available in the Northeastern region. He also apprised the participants of various government support schemes, funding opportunities and market-assistance initiatives, including the NSIC's programmes for promoting MSMEs and entrepreneurship in Arunachal.
RGU's IQAC Director Prof Utpal Bhattacharjee highlighted the importance of integrating innovation and entrepreneurship into academic programmes and quality-assurance frameworks. He emphasised the need for stronger industry-academia linkages to build a sustainable startup ecosystem, and encouraged students and research scholars to actively explore entrepreneurship as a career pathway.
RGU Joint Registrar Dr David Pertin in his address highlighted the university's various institutional initiatives aimed at promoting research translation, innovation and entrepreneurship. He apprised the gathering of the ongoing projects and initiatives being undertaken at RGU, and said that RGU is committed not only to producing graduates and researchers, but also to nurturing innovators, entrepreneurs and future job creators.
Commending the role of the DST-Technology Enabling Centre (TEC) of RGU, he observed that the centre serves as an important bridge between research, technology and real-world applications. He encouraged students to think beyond conventional academic boundaries and explore how their ideas, knowledge and research could address local and societal challenges.
He further emphasised that knowledge and technology possess immense potential to transform ideas into solutions, and solutions into sustainable enterprises, thereby contributing to employment generation and socioeconomic development.
RGU's CSE HoD Ani Taggu emphasised the department's role in fostering technology-driven innovation and entrepreneurship among students.
Convener of the seminar and coordinator of RGU's DST-Technology Enabling Centre, Dr Rahul Chandra Kushwaha, gave a brief overview of the seminar and outlined the objectives and initiatives of the DST-TEC in strengthening the technology, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Northeastern region.
RGU's Electronics & Communication Engineering Department Head Dr Jagdeep Rahul said that the seminar provided a valuable platform for participants to gain insights into entrepreneurship, government support mechanisms, and the opportunities available for developing innovative and scalable solutions, particularly in the NE region.
The seminar also featured poster presentations by participants, showcasing startup ideas and proof-of-concept projects, followed by an interactive session with the experts.
Faculty members, research scholars, postgraduate and undergraduate students of RGU, and representatives from government organisations and industry participated in the seminar.
