NITI Incubation Centre opens in Dimapur to support startups through mentorship, funding and innovation.
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DIMAPUR — The NITI Incubation Centre, a digital innovation centre, was inaugurated in Dimapur by P Tokugha Sema, Director of Industries & Commerce on Friday.
The centre, established to bridge the gap between ideas and opportunities for entrepreneurs in the state, has been recognised as an official incubation partner under Startup Nagaland following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the department and NITI Group three months ago.
Addressing the gathering, Sema said government employment opportunities in the state had become saturated. Referring to a recent recruitment advertisement, he noted that a small number of vacant posts had attracted around 400 applications.
He advocated entrepreneurship as a viable career option for the youth and said entrepreneurs should serve as role models.
While acknowledging that Nagas were largely first-generation entrepreneurs, with very few second- or third-generation entrepreneurs, he said the state could not depend solely on salaried employment and government jobs.
Sema expressed the view that those engaged in entrepreneurial ventures often enjoyed greater opportunities and flexibility than salaried employees.
He also suggested that government servants, while legally prohibited from running businesses, could contribute as investors to support local enterprises.
“The government should be giving support, mentorship, awareness programs, seed monies, funding. That has to be provided through the government channels. And an information centre like this should be doing a needful for the people, especially for the upcoming generation”, he said.
He also addressed the challenges involved in establishing and running an incubation centre, stating that not everyone can serve as an incubator and that creating a successful incubation ecosystem is not easy.
Emphasising the need for tangible social impact, he said incubation centres should focus on training students and nurturing the younger generation.
Sema, who also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Nagaland Tool Room and Training Centre (NTTC), encouraged local students to utilise the facilities available at NTTC, including 3D printing, computer-aided design (CAD), computer numerical control (CNC) machines and artificial intelligence technologies.
He informed that NTTC is sending master trainers to Singapore and Germany for advanced training. Highlighting the state's progress, he said Nagaland is currently placed in the leader category of the national startup rankings and assured continued government support through mentorship, funding and seed capital for entrepreneurs.
NITI Group CEO Rishav Sethi noted that NITI has collaborated with several state departments, including Tourism, Planning and Transformation, Industries & Commerce, and Youth Resources & Sports, to develop software solutions.
Projects undertaken include applications for educational institutions, healthcare facilities and the Hornbill Festival.
Sethi said the incubation centre would allow startups to focus on growth rather than infrastructure expenses. He announced that selected startups would receive free plug-and-play workspace equipped with air-conditioned offices, conference facilities, video-conferencing tools and a seminar hall capable of accommodating 40 to 50 participants.
NITI AI specialist Alovi Shohe said the centre aims to nurture innovation, promote entrepreneurship and create opportunities for Nagaland's youth.
She observed that many promising ideas fail to reach the market due to limited access to technology, workspace, mentorship and networking, adding that the centre seeks to build an ecosystem where ideas can be transformed into viable products.
Web Developer Prakash said the centre, supported by Startup Nagaland, would provide assistance in startup registration, business planning, branding, product development, pitch preparation and mentorship.
He added that six startups incubated at the centre have already reached the final round of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) programme, demonstrating the potential of local entrepreneurs when provided with proper guidance and support.