The Institution’s Innovation Council (IIC), KISS Deemed to be University, organised a viewing of the MIC-driven activity on “MeitY Startup Hub: Empowering Innovation in HEIs” on Thursday, 10 September 2026. The session, conducted under the aegis of the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, was designed for faculty members, researchers, students, innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, IIC members, R&D Cell, Incubation Centre of the University.
Opening the programme, Dr. Dipan Sahu, Assistant Director, Institution’s Innovation Council, Ministry of Education, highlighted the growing collaboration between MIC and the MeitY Startup Hub in strengthening India’s innovation and startup ecosystem. He noted that MeitY Startup Hub initiatives are helping extend structured support to higher educational institutions, innovators, startups, and incubation networks, with particular emphasis on deep-tech innovation and institutions beyond metropolitan centres.
Representing the MeitY Startup Hub, Mr. Utkarsh Singh presented an overview of its mandate to support technology-led innovation from ideation to commercialisation. He explained that the Hub assists startups and entrepreneurs working in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, the Internet of Things, Cybersecurity, Semiconductors, Drones, Software-as-a-service, and other emerging technologies. Its support includes grants and investment, incubation, mentoring, market access, industry connections, innovation challenges, capacity building, intellectual-property assistance, and national and international showcasing opportunities.
The presentation covered major programmes including TIDE, SAMRIDH, and GENESIS. TIDE supports early-stage innovators from ideation to proof of concept; SAMRIDH assists growth-stage startups through accelerator-led, matching investment support; and GENESIS focuses on strengthening startup ecosystems in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. The GENESIS framework offers support across different stages, including Entrepreneur-in-Residence assistance, pilot support, investment, and a proposed deep-tech component. Mr. Singh also explained that MeitY-supported incubators and centres of excellence serve as on-ground partners by providing technical and business mentoring, legal and regulatory guidance, access to research and prototyping facilities, investor readiness, and industry linkages.
During the interactive session, participants sought clarification on accessing incubation support, eligibility for startup investment programmes, assistance for deep-tech ventures, and the process followed for selecting innovators and startups. The resource person shared that calls are generally routed through designated incubators, which conduct the initial screening before shortlisted proposals are considered at the MeitY Startup Hub level. He also highlighted the convergence between the MeitY Startup Hub and the IndiaAI Mission in nurturing AI- and ML-based startups through incubation and centres of excellence.
The session enabled the KISS-DU IIC community to gain a clearer understanding of government-backed pathways for transforming innovative ideas into scalable, technology-driven enterprises. It concluded with a vote of thanks and reinforced KISS-DU’s commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, industry engagement, and startup awareness among its academic community.
