Jammu, Nov 20: IIIM BioNEST Bio-Incubation Centre under the aegis of CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu along with its key ecosystem partner, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), DBT, GoI, on Monday organized a one-day Global Bio-India Road Show in which more than 300 students drawn from different colleges of Jammu have participated.
The whole event was conducted under the patronage of Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM Jammu & Chairman BioNEST Bioincubation Centre who also presided over the program. Dr Chhaya Chauhan, Sr. Manager Incubation, BIRAC was a special guest while Dr Shreya Malik Domain Head – Biotech & Cleantech Vertical, SIIC, IIT-Kanpur and Akhileshwar Singh, Chartered Accountant were among the guest speakers for the technical session.
Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, in his presidential address, highlighted the need for innovation nurturing and entrepreneurship development in the UT of Jammu & Kashmir and shared with the audience how CSIR-IIIM is constantly working for the promotion of the startup ecosystem in the region. He said that the institute is doing cutting-edge research to discover newer drugs for Cancer, Diabetes mellitus, Rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimer besides running societal mission programmes and also mentioned a few achievements of CSIR-IIIM including purple revolution, phytopharmaceutical drug leads and other technologies produced by the institute.
He underscored the significant role of the incubator in creating awareness among the local community in Jammu & Kashmir via its roadshows, hackathons, city camps and similar initiatives. “Here is the unique opportunity that CSIR-IIIM has only BioNEST incubator sanctioned by the Department of Biotechnology in the UT of J&K where the innovators and startups can find incubation support right from the lab. to market,” he added.
Dr Chhaya Chauhan, Senior Manager Incubation, BIRAC Special Guest for the event discussed the major initiatives taken by the BIRAC, Department of Biotechnology by organizing Global Bio-India Road Show in all the 75 BioNEST Incubator across the country as the precursor events of the mega show which is going to be held at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi between 4th-6th December 2023 wherein a large number of startups from pan India will participate including 3000+ delegates, 500+ exhibitors from across the globe to connect the Indian Biotechnology ecosystem with the International ecosystem.
Earlier Dr Saurabh Saran, Principal Investigator, IIIM-TBI in his welcome address provided an overview of the roadshow organized and informed the gathering about the initiatives taken by the IIIM incubator to support the startup ecosystem in J&K. He further informed that the Road Show is being held as a prelude to the mega event Global Bio India-2023 which would be organized by the Department of Biotechnology, GoI and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) at New Delhi during the first week of December.
The program included a technical session where domain experts, Dr. Shreya Malik, Domain Head – Biotech & Cleantech Vertical, SIIC, IIT-Kanpur, Mr Akhileshwar Singh, Chartered Accountant and Er. Ankush Varma, Coordinator, IIIM-TBI delivered detailed presentations on entrepreneurship, startup ecosystem and policies related to startups. The Road Show aimed to empower youth with knowledge and resources, contributing to the Startup India initiative in the region.
Over 300 students from Govt. College for Women Parade Ground, Jammu, Govt. S P M R College of Commerce, Jammu, Govt. College for Women, Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, Government Gandhi Memorial Science College, Jammu, Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu and Maulana Azad Memorial College, Jammu participated with huge enthusiasm.
Prominent among others who attended Er Abdul Rahim, Vice Chairman BioNEST Bioincubation Centre, Dr Sumit G Gandhi, Sr Pr Scientist, Vikram Singh, Sr Controller of Administration, Ajay Kumar, Controller of Finance & Accounts, Er Anil K Katare, Pr Scientist, Dilip Kumar Gehlot, Store and Purchase Officer and Rajesh Gupta, Administrative Officer.
Dr Gurleen Kour, Scientist, conducted the proceedings while Er Ankush Varma, Coordinator, IIIM-Technology Business Incubator presented a formal vote of thanks.
