Innovation and Start-Ups: GCET Jammu hosts online panel discussion

Jammu: The Start-Up Cell, Government College for Engineering Technology (GCET), Jammu organized an online panel discussion on “Innovation and Start-ups” under the guidance of the Principal Dr. Sameru Sharma.
The discussion led by policy experts and entrepreneurs from different fields and experiences was held to provide the holistic view of a startup eco system. The session was moderated by Founder, Nentoir Technologies, Jammu, Ishan Verma. The panel discussion started with several questions raised by him.
At the outset, Associate Professor, IIT (BHU), Varanasi, Dr. N.S Rajput, was approached to understand the need to improve academic atmosphere in response to which the participants were guided to understand the importance of having a start-up environment in colleges. His discussion on efforts required from the college side for the effective implementation of start-ups will command in designing a curriculum that is innovation friendly.
Similarly, Assistant Vice President, J&K Bank, Rakesh Magotra, discussed the expectation of banks towards entrepreneurs. He assisted participants understand the available schemes and the expectations of banks from them in an effective manner. Further, he shared his experience of hurdles faced by entrepreneurs in banks and counselled the budding entrepreneurs to ease their journey. Elaborating on this, he suggested building facilitation centres that would surely help entrepreneurs to get their planning and management done effectively.
Further, Director, Horticulture Planning and Marketing, J&K, Vishesh Mahajan, imparted guidance regarding the scope of entrepreneurship in horticulture and other related fields. In a conversation regarding the importance of legal aspects in start-up journeys, Advocate, N.S Khera, Designing Partner, Legal Hinge Law Firm, discussed the basic things regarding the legalities involved while going through the start-up journey. He suggested budding entrepreneurs to have legal counsels that will help them about various NOCs, arbitration clauses and much more and will help them stay away from involvement in legal controversy.
Lastly, entrepreneurs, Vijay Arora, Founder, Amar Jyoti IAS Academy, Chandigarh; Shiromani Gupta, Mandala Artist, Karamvir Singh Rajpal, Founder, Neonex Technology, shared their pre and post covid entrepreneurial experiences thereby, helping build the mindset of young individuals regarding the star-up ecosystems.
The key topics of discussion that the panellists engaged in were the importance of building innovation eco-system within colleges and universities, various schemes or findings available in various sectors, need for legal counsels and facilitation centres and various ways in which new entrepreneurs can avoid shutting down their start-ups.
Overall, the session was very interactive and helped the young minds to strengthen their professional motives.
Dr. Sameru Sharma, appreciated the efforts of the organizing team comprising Dr. Bhawna Sharma, Associate Professor & Chairperson Star- up Cell, Er. Sheetal Gandotra, Convenor, Start-Up Cell, Er. Sanjeev Gupta, Coordinator, GCET, Jammu Er. Vibha Mahajan, Assistant Professor (AA), Member T&P Cell, GCET, Jammu, student coordinators: Mandeep Singh, Mohd. Sami, Imbroz Singh, Jaanvi Sharma, Paras Gupta and all the speakers and called for organising more such programmes in future for increasing the employability skills of the students.