Lok Sabha Question No. 2445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-30
Subject: Startup India Initiative
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI, SANTOSH AHLAWAT

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2445 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30/11/2016

## STARTUP INDIA INITIATIVE

## 2445. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI: SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó Ùðüëðó be pleased to state:

(a) whether NIDHI (National Institute for Development and Harnessing Innovations) has committed Rs.500 crore to  implement  startup  India  initiative  by  providing  technology  solutions  and  nurturing  ideas  and  innovations  into successful startups; and

- (b) if so, the details along with current status thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI.Y. S. CHOWDARY) òãðìððÐð ¡ðøÜ ÑßðøÌðð÷ò±ð¨îó ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó +ÉÉè® ÑðöÆãðó òãðìððÐð ÙðüëððâðÚð Ùð÷ü Üð¸Úð Ùðüëðó (gÉÉÒ ´ÉÉ<Ç. AºÉ. SÉÉèvÉ®ÉÒ)

(a)  &  (b)  Department  of  Science  &  Technology,  Ministry  of  Science  &  Technology  has  launched  NIDHI  initiative (National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations) in 2016. NIDHI is an umbrella programme conceived and developed for nurturing ideas and innovations (knowledge-based and technology-driven) into successful startups. The programme is in-line with the national priorities and goals and is focused on building a seamless and innovation driven entrepreneurial ecosystem especially by channelizing youth towards it and thereby bringing in the positive impact on  the  socio-economic  development  of  the  country.  NIDHI,  by  design  connects  and  strengthens  all  the  links  of  the innovation chain comprising of scouting, sustaining, securing, scaling and showcasing.

There are 8 components of NIDHI that support each stage of a budding startup from idea to market. The first component,  PRAYAS  (Promoting  and  Accelerating  Young  and  Aspiring  Innovators  &  Startups),  launched  on  2nd September, 2016, aims to support innovators to build prototypes of their ideas by providing a grant up to Rs.10 lakh and an  access  to  Fabrication  Facility  (PRAYAS-SHALA).  The  second  component,  NIDHI-Entrepreneur-In-Residence (NIDHI-EIR) provides a support up to Rs. 30,000 per month for one year to student entrepreneurs. Under other NIDHI initiatives, DST extends support for 5 years for establishing 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centres (IEDCs)' in academic institutions to encourage students to promote start-ups; NIDHI-Technology Business Incubator (TBI)  to  help  converting  innovations  to  start-ups;  NIDHI-Accelerator  for  fast  tracking  a  start-up  through  focused intervention; NIDHI Centres of Excellence (NIDHI-CoE) - a World class facility to help startups go global and the NIDHI - Idea scouting and scaling programs. The final component under NIDHI, the Seed Support System provides investment up to Rs.1.00 crore per start-up and is implemented through Technology Business Incubators.

The various programs under NIDHI are administered by Department of Science & Technology with support of the National Expert Advisory Committee (NEAC) on Innovation, Incubation and Technology Entrepreneurship. The committee has recommended to support proposals worth Rs.500 crore. It is recommended to establish six NIDHI- Centers of Excellence in Technology Business Incubation at a cost of Rs. 210 crore for five years, fifteen NIDHI- Technology Business Incubators at Rs. 150 crore for five years, initiate ten NIDHI- Seed Support System at incubators at a cost of Rs. 100  crore  and  support  nine  NIDHI  Accelerator  programs  at  a  total  cost  of  Rs.  12  crore.  DST  has  also  approved establishment of Research Park at Indian Institute of Technology at a cost of Rs. 90.00 crore and has released Rs. 40.00 crore as first installment.

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