In an initiative to boost innovation and entrepreneurship in Jammu & Kashmir, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister inaugurated two state-of-the-art facilities at the Innovation Campus of the Islamic University of Science & Technology (IUST), Awantipora.
The newly launched centres include the Innovation Technology Business Incubator (iTBI), supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the iFactory under the Centre for Industry 4.0 (C4i4), sponsored by the Ministry of Heavy Industries. Both facilities aim to nurture start-ups, promote advanced research, and strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem.
Empowering Start-ups and Innovation
Dr. Jitendra Singh congratulated IUST for establishing advanced labs and positioning itself as a hub of innovation. He announced a special grant of ₹5 crores to further strengthen the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and pledged handholding support for 30 start-ups.
He highlighted India’s global leadership in biotechnology, space technology, information technology, and ocean research, urging students and researchers to seize these opportunities. Additionally, he distributed Ignition Grants worth ₹40 lakhs to budding innovators, encouraging early-stage entrepreneurial initiatives.
Support from Government and Industry Leaders
The event was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Shantmanu, Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, J&K Government; Mr. D. S. Navalgundkar, Founder and CEO, C4i4; Shri Praveen Roy, Head TTI Division, DST, Government of India; senior officers from central and state governments; Vice-Chancellors of sister universities; and leading industry representatives.
S. Navalgundkar, Founder and CEO, C4i4, emphasized the importance of Industry 4.0 technologies and pledged collaboration with IUST to foster innovation-driven growth. Prof. Shakil A. Romshoo, Vice Chancellor of IUST, highlighted the university’s vision of contributing to Viksit Bharat@2047. He shared that each department and centre at IUST is preparing comprehensive development plans to align with this vision and strengthen the institution’s role in regional and national growth.
Prof. Romshoo further noted that IUST has significantly enhanced its ecosystem for innovation, incubation, and start-ups over recent years. The dedicated Innovation Campus currently hosts nearly ten specialized centres. These centres work to promote entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and the development of viable start-ups.
Building a Thriving Innovation Ecosystem
As reported by kashmirreader.com, the Registrar of IUST reiterated the university’s commitment. He emphasized making innovation and entrepreneurship central pillars of its academic and societal mission. The event saw wide participation from academia, industry, and government. It marked a significant milestone in fostering technology-driven solutions and building a vibrant start-up culture in the Union Territory.
