CUPB organized a seminar on "Entrepreneurship and Innovation as Career Opportunity – Funding Opportunities to Turn Ideas into Reality"

Bathinda, January 31, 2023: The Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) under the patronage of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari hosted a seminar on "Entrepreneurship and Innovation as Career Opportunity – Funding Opportunities to Turn Ideas into Reality." The programme was organised by Institution’s Innovation Council and the IPR Cell of CUPB in collaboration with FITT, IIT Delhi. The invited speaker for this programme was Dr. Saket Chattopadhyay, Senior Manager, FITT, IIT Delhi.

While addressing the participants, Dr. Saket Chattopadhyay from FITT, the industry interface arm of IIT Delhi, stated that entrepreneurship is a process that involves finding a business idea, creating a business plan, raising capital, building a team, launching and growing a business. He emphasized that the success of a new business venture depends on the novelty of ideas or services, which depends on innovation. He highlighted that a budding entrepreneur should possess the qualities of problem solving, innovative thinking, confidence in their idea and desire to take responsibility. Dr. Chattopadhyay discussed different funding programmes at FITT, IIT Delhi in the areas of business ideation, product development, pilot scale, early market traction and acceleration. He emphasized that an entrepreneur with an innovative idea would always get ample funding opportunities. He encouraged young scientists/researchers to take advantage of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) PACE schemes to develop Proof of Concept (PoC) for processes and products and validate those processes and products. During his lecture, Dr. Chattopadhyay shared the success stories of start-ups that have launched innovative products and services such as waterless urinals, portable bio toilets, food waste composting, masks made of antiviral garments, eco-friendly packaging solutions, etc.

At the outset, Dr. Preeti Khetarpal welcomed the participants and introduced the invited speaker. Towards the end, Prof. Monisha Dhiman, President, IIC, expressed her gratitude towards the invited speaker for delivering an inspirational lecture. She thanked everyone for making this event a success. The programme moderated by Debjani Chakraborty, and it was attended by faculty, research scholars and students of the university.