Government launches 15 challenges for Indian start-up, and MSMEs to solve, which will give them a grant of Rs.50,00,00 each. This program as a part of Niti Aayog under the initiative, namely the Atal Innovation Mission.
For this great initiative, Neeti Aayog has collaborated with ISRO, Ministry of defence, Ministry of food processing industries, Ministry of housing and urban affairs, etc. R Ramanan, the mission director of the Atal Innovation Mission, said,
“The MSME sector plays a very critical role. It’s a vibrant sector, it’s one of the fastest grown sectors, and it plays a critical role in Atman Nirbhar Bharat which is being envisioned by the honourable PM.”
It is considered to be a push for Atmanirbhar Bharat and reducing India’s dependence on input imports. The grant of Rs.50,00,00 will be distributed in three fragments. Niti Aayog will be providing grant only to the projects which are either in advance to the stage of research and development or having an initial prototype. Each challenge will have two winners, each eligible for a grant of up to Rs. 50 lakh. Here is the list for start-ups and MSMEs :
Ministry of defence
o artificial intelligence-based product
o model and auto stabiliser system
Ministry of health and welfare
o AI-based solution for antimicrobial
o resistance surveillance
Healthcare monitoring
Ministry of food processing industries
o effective utilisation of commercial
o food processing, industrial waste streams
o Machines for indigenous food products
Indian space research organisation
o Robotics/AR/VR to support space exploration and outer space monitoring
o Geospatial information using artificial intelligence useful in crop monitoring, weather forecasting and program evaluations.
Ministry of housing and urban affairs
o Project clean water, clean Air
The proposed objective of the challenge is to provide a steady stream of innovation to products and solutions. To support such innovation central government and various ministries will potentially become the first buyers of the innovations.
For our readers, TSA informs that MSMEs are vibrant and one of the fastest-growing sectors that will play a crucial part in boosting the economy. They are the growth engine of the country. Therefore this initiative will help identify correct entrepreneurs to promote innovation necessary for boosting the sector.
Many steps are already in place towards achieving this objective – for instance, the Global Bharat program, exclusive for MSME businesses, launched by SAP enables Indian MSMEs to become globally competitive by equipping them with digital technologies, with its three-fold objective – access to the global marketplace, digital skilling initiatives and digitally transforming business. Further, Zoho has collaborated with NASSCOM Foundation for Big Tech program where non-profit businesses are provided with necessary technology tools.
