Lok Sabha Question No. 1512 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-04
Subject: Startup under SAMRIDH
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Shri Raju Bista

## 1512.    SHRI RAJU BISTA:

Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

(a) whether  the  Government  has  successfully  launched  the  second  cohort  of  Startup Accelerator  of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development and Growth (SAMRIDH) to further support and accelerate Indian startups and if so, the key objectives and details of this initiative;

(b) the details to foster innovation and development among startups in the field of electronics and IT since its start under the said scheme;

(c) the number of startups that have benefited from the said scheme in the State of West Bengal so far;

(d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government to promote startups from tier 2 and tier 3 cities like Siliguri, Darjeeling and Kalimpong; and

(e) whether the Government further plans to expand such startup initiative in other sectors to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) and    (b):    The  Startup Accelerator  of  MeitY  for  Product  Innovation,  Development,  and  Growth (SAMRIDH) programme was launched in August 2021 for a period of three years (further extended for one  year)  to  accelerate  around  300  Startups  through  existing  and  upcoming Accelerators. At  present, under the SAMRIDH programme, 175 startups have been selected and accelerated through 22 selected accelerators  spread  across  12  states  of  India,  in  the  focused  areas  of  Health-tech,  Ed-tech,  Agri-tech, Consumer-tech, Fin-tech, Software as a Service (SaaS), and sustainability. The government has launched the second cohort of SAMRIDH to support 125 startups through potential accelerators.

(c):      Under  the  first  cohort  of  SAMRIDH  scheme,  IIM  Calcutta  Innovation  Park,  IIM  Calcutta  was selected  as  one  of  the  SAMRIDH  Accelerator.  The  allocated  cohort  size  of  startups  to  IIM  Calcutta Innovation Park is of 10 Startups.

(d)  and  (e):    The  Government  of  India  is  making  continuous  efforts  to  promote  IT  industry  in  smaller cities  and  towns  and  has  initiated  multiple  schemes  and  programmes  for  growth  of  IT  industry  in  this regard. Today India is recognized as IT Hub worldwide.

The Software Technology Park (STP) is the one of the most important schemes in this effort. Under this scheme, Software Technology Parks have been established in 65 cities across India with 57 centres in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities like Durgapur, Haldia, Kharagpur, Siliguri  etc. The STP centres provide incubator facility  which  help  entrepreneurs  to  convert  their  innovative  ideas  into  startups.  The  incubator  facility provides opportunity of meeting with investors like Venture Capitalists (VCs), mentors from IITs/NITs/Industry and networking opportunity with IT professionals etc.

Further, MeitY has initiated the 'Gen-Next Support for Innovative Startups (GENESIS)'  Scheme with the aim to strengthen the startup ecosystem in Tier-II and Tier-III cities across India. The scheme envisages scaling  up  about  1,600  technology  startups,  to  discover,  nurture  and  grow  technology  startups  with  an outlay of Rs. 490 Crore over period of five years. Under  GENESIS, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER),Nadia, West Bengal  has been selected as one of the Implementing Agency.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1512

TO BE ANSWERED ON:  04.12.2024

## STARTUP UNDER SAMRIDH