Srinagar|July, 24: Director of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Bhuvnesh Pratap Singh, on Friday visited the Greenovator Incubation Foundation (GIF) at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar to review the institute’s startup ecosystem and emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among academia, industry, government and investors to accelerate innovation-led entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Singh toured the Greenovator Incubation Centre, including its Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab) and startup workspaces, where incubated startups showcased their products, technologies and entrepreneurial journeys. He interacted with startup founders and discussed innovation, technology commercialisation, product development, market access, investment readiness and scaling opportunities.
During the interaction, the DPIIT Director encouraged entrepreneurs to develop technology-driven solutions capable of addressing societal challenges while creating sustainable business opportunities. He appreciated the quality of innovations emerging from the incubator and stressed the importance of strengthening institutional linkages to build a vibrant startup ecosystem.
Dr. Singh was accompanied by CA Tripti Shinghal Somani, Founder of Womennovator – Global Incubator for Women, and Shabir Hussain Shah, Faculty Member, Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI).
The delegation also reviewed the incubation infrastructure and appreciated the efforts of Greenovator Incubation Foundation CEO Sana Aftab and Incubation Manager Jehangir Hameed in strengthening the innovation ecosystem through incubation support, mentoring, capacity-building programmes and industry partnerships.
NIT Srinagar Director Prof. Binod Kumar Kanaujia described the visit as a recognition of the institute’s growing innovation ecosystem. He said the institute remains committed to promoting research-driven entrepreneurship by providing students and innovators with world-class incubation facilities, mentorship and industry exposure.
Registrar Prof. Atikur Rehman said collaborations with national institutions such as DPIIT provide startups with valuable opportunities to receive expert guidance, build industry linkages and access larger markets, inspiring young innovators to transform ideas into successful enterprises.
The visit concluded with an emphasis on closer collaboration among government agencies, higher educational institutions, incubation centres and industry partners to strengthen technology commercialisation and further boost the startup ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.
