Lok Sabha Question No. 2025 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Setting up of NSTEDB
Ministry: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Gautham Sigamani Pon, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Ganesan Selvam, C.N. Annadurai, Dhanush M Kumar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2025 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12/02/2021

## Setting up of NSTEDB

2025.  SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON:

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

SHRI SELVAM G.:

SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY वान और ौयोगक मंी be pleased to state:

- (a)        the  objective  of  setting  up  'National  Science  and  Technology  Entrepreneurship Development Board'(NSTEDB) in the country;
- (b)       the details of achievements made by NSTEDB since its inception;
- (c) whether the Government  has made  any  assessment of the functioning and performance of NSTEDB, if so, the outcome of the assessment;
- (d)       the details of training programmes conducted by the Board under various programmes during the last three years;
- (e)        whether  some  outside  agencies  have  been  engaged  for  conducting  the  training programmes,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  criteria  adopted  for  engaging  such agencies; and
- (f)         the  other  steps  taken  by  the  NSTEDB  to  help  promote  knowledge  driven  and technology intensive enterprises?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE; MINISTER OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; AND MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES

(DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

वाय और परवार कयाण मंी , वान और ौयोगक मंी और पृ वी वान मंी ( डॉ . हष वधन )

- (a)         The  objectives  of  setting  up  of  National  Science  &  Technology  Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB)are mentioned below:
1. To act as a policy advisory body to the Government in matters relating to S&T Entrepreneurship Development.
2. To guide the Department in implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Schemes/programmes related to Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
3. To guide in generating new programmes/schemes.

- (b)        Since inception, NSTEDB has made pioneering efforts to foster the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem  in  the  country.  NSTEDB  is  one  of  the  first  government  agencies  to  promote institutional  mechanisms  to  support  technology  based  entrepreneurship  in  the  country through speed, scale and skills. Under its National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) umbrella program, NSTEDB has aligned its programs with Startup India initiative.  In  the  last  5  years,  the  number  of  Technology  Business  Incubators  (TBI) established has doubled and have now reached more than 150 TBIs. NSTEDB has enabled Innovation Ecosystem Policy Frameworks like: Service Tax exemption to both incubators and incubates (year 2007), Permission to hold equity in incubatees by DST recognized incubators (year 2007), CSR Funding for incubators (year 2014).

NSTEDB  has  pioneered  Innovative  Partnership  Models  leveraging  the  strengths  of diverse stakeholders by programs in PPP mode for scouting & supporting innovation. NSTEDB backed TBI's were one of the first incubators to get support from (multilateral) international developmental agencies. NSTEDB was first to initiate supporting accelerator programs (year 2016) through TBIs to accelerate growth-stage companies at the post incubation stage. So far,  NSTEDB  has  supported  417  startup  companies  through  its  27  accelerator  programs conducted  at  various  Technology  Business  Incubators  (TBI)  across  the  nation.  TBIs supported with NIDHI-PRAYAS Program under which 401 innovators have been supported in last 5 years. NSTEDB pioneered initiating NIDHI Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIR) fellowship to support aspiring entrepreneurs. So far, 221 EIR fellowships have been extended through TBIs.

According  to  a  latest  study  conducted  during  2014-2019  through  Indian  Institute  of Technology,  Kanpur,  on  NSTEDB  programs,  the  total  turnover  of  both  the  graduated  and incubated startups at NSTEDB supported TBIs is in excess of ₹27,000 Crore.

- (c)        Government has made assessments on the performance of the National Science and technology Entrepreneurship Board (NSTEDB) which was setup in 1982 in the Department of Science and  Technology.  The  chronological  details  of  the  assessments  carried  out  on  the performance of NSTEDB are given below:
1. 1988:   The report of the Evaluation Committee, chaired by Shri T.N. Seshan to study the working of NSTEDB in 1988. Major outcomes of the report are:
- i. NSTEDB must continue to function in DST
- ii. There is a need for an exclusive Board to promote entrepreneurship among science and technology persons.
- iii.   Adequate staff and funds must be provided to the NSTEDB in order that it may fulfill its objective in a much better fashion than heretofore. At the moment the activity is subcritical.
2. 1998:    Report  of  the  Evaluation  Study  of  NSTEDB  performance  and  their  impact  on Entrepreneurship Technology Development, Employment, Technology Transfer by National  Council  of  Applied  Economic  Research,  1998.  Major  recommendations of  the report are given below.
- i. Social cost  benefit  analysis  reveals  a  high  social  yield  (social  IRR)  while  enhancing the role of private sector.
- ii. Given  the  size  of  the  problem  for  which  NSTEDB  has  been  set  up  to  tackle,  there appears a need for       NSTEDB to enhance and expand its catalytic role.
- iii.   Strategic  planning  and  organization  to  access  funds  outside  of  government  and enhance visibility and impact through improved delivery systems.
- iv.   Introduce project orientation and management for success of the programmes.

- v. To  fine  tune  the  programs  on  knowledge  and  awareness  spread,  incubation  and support  facilities  for  entrepreneurs  with  S&T  orientation  and  group  employment schemes.
- vi.   To  increase  the  coverage  of  NSTEDB  schemes  across  the  country  and  harness  the power of information technology in spreading entrepreneurship awareness.
3. 2013:    Evaluation  of  NSTEDB  performance  and  achievement  during  XI  plan  by  a committee chaired by Prof. S. K. Joshi, 2013. Major recommendations of the committee are given below.
- i. NSTEDB  to  disengage  from  skill  development  activities  especially  in  the  wake  of science development mission and a corporation to implement the mission.
- ii.   NSTEDB to continue all the other ongoing programmes on innovation. Entrepreneurship and incubation development.
- iii.   NSTEDB to expand the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) network substantially in the country through competitive support model, participation of the State Governments and appropriate Public-Public and Public-Private partnerships.
- iv.   A new program on innovation -Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development (i-STED) to  address the challenges associated with a specific region/industry/cluster by  connecting  interventions  of  S&T  and  innovative  solutions  with  entrepreneurial opportunities to be initiated.
4. 2020:    The  assessment  of  National  Science  and  technology  Development  Board (NSTEDB)  efforts  more  specifically  during  last  5  years  i.e.  (2014-19)  in  promoting innovation  and  entrepreneurship  was  carried  out  by  Indian  Institute  of  Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur). The outcomes of the impact report for the assessment, published on 8thSeptember, 2020 are given below:
- i. Board's role has been critical in nurturing and sustaining the nation's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- ii. The  constant  innovative  approach  and  effort  adopted  by  the  DST  team  and  other stakeholders in successfully navigating the pitfalls in this journey are noteworthy and deserves high appreciation.
- iii.   As  on  31 st   March  2020  there  are  153  Incubators,  with  a  total  of  3681  Incubatees across the country, while 113 Incubatees are acquired by third parties.
- iv.   The continuation of NSTEDB's programs in this direction leveraging its strengths built over  time  is  critical  to  position  India  on  the  global  Economic  map  with  economic, social  and technology disruptions in both domestic and global market space, this is also evident given its accelerated pace of interventions in the last 5 years.
- v. Learning  from  the  insights  derived  from  last  five  years  analysis,  coupled  with pandemic's  learnings,  the  report  concluded  that  NSTEDB  has  a  greater  potential  to contribute and deliver to fulfill the national aspirations under Startup India, Atmanirbhar India with more empowered innovators, start-ups and incubators.
14. (d)        Board has conducted the following 5 training programs during the last 3 years:
- (1)   Entrepreneurship  Awareness  Camp  (EAC):  Duration  -3  Days.  Objective:  To  sensitize and inculcate the seed of S&T entrepreneurship amongst youth.
- (2) Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP):Duration-4 Weeks. Objective: Capacity  Building  programme  of  potential  entrepreneurs  for  setting  up  S&T  based enterprises.
- (3)  Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WEDP): Duration-4 Weeks. Objective:  To  motivate  and  encourage  potential  women  entrepreneurs  having  S  &  T background for new enterprise creation.
- (4)   Technology  based  Entrepreneurship  Development  Programme  (TEDP):  Duration-6 Weeks. Objective: Training programme for potential entrepreneurs having S&T background to promote technology led/ R & D based enterprises.

- (5)   Faculty  Development  Programme  (FDP):  Duration-2  Weeks.  Objective:  To  train  and enhance  the  supply  of  competent  faculty  /  resource  persons  for  teaching  and  training entrepreneurship on PAN India basis.
2. (e)        Various academic / engineering organization/ agencies were engaged for conducting the training programmes, and training programme conducting agencies were selected on the basis of following 5 Criteria:
- i. Experience and expertise in conducting such training programmes
- ii. In-house capacity and capabilities of the institution/organisation
- iii.   Resources available for conducting training programmes
- iv.   Commitment of the organisation/institution
- v. Track record of conducting similar activities in the past.

The  list  of  selected  agencies  may  please  be  seen  from  NSTEDB  website  URL: http://www.nstedb.com/AgenciesEngagedforconducting InnovationandEntrepreneurshipTrainingPrograminthecountry.pdf

- (f)         NSTEDB  has  taken  the  following  steps  to  help  promote  knowledge  driven  and technology intensive enterprises:
- (1)  Established incubators at  various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)of the country for the incubation of the innovative products.
- (2)  Providing  Seed  support  to  the  innovators  and  startups  for  making  the  technologies commercially viable.
- (3)  Providing  the  monthly  fellowship  to  the  entrepreneurs  through  its  programme  of Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR).
- (4)  Providing Promoting and Accelerating Young and Aspiring Technology Entrepreneurs (PRAYAS) prototype grant to each Idea for nurturing it in to commercial viable product by leveraging technology infrastructure , technical guidance and mentorship to innovators.
- (5)  Enabled  productization  of  ideas  by  young  entrepreneurs  in  various  domains  like agritech,  edutech,  fintech,  medtech,  artificial  intelligence,  machine  learning,  robotics, sanitation etc. Some of the innovative products recently developed by Start-ups promoted by  NSTEDB  programs  are:  Ergonomic  toilet  with  an  elevated  footrest,  non-invasive screening  and  detection  of  oral  cancer,  Water-saving  RO  filters,  In-space  propulsion systems & orbital launch vehicles, IoT enabled automated smart cradle, etc.
- (6) In addition Department has taken a specific initiative CAWACH [Centre for Augmenting WAR with COVID-19 Health Crisis], through a Technology Business Incubator (TBI) set up by  this  Department.  The  initiative  was  launched  in  March  end  2020.It  supported  51 innovative startups with market ready solution in five thematic areas:
- i. Diagnostics, drugs & vaccines
- ii. Informatics
- iii.   Disinfectants & Sterilizers
- iv.   Ventilators & Other Medical Equipment
- v. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

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