Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India has Soft launched Phase-II of OctaNE CoE along with the Open Challenge Program (OCP-II) on 20th July 2021 to create a holistic eco-system for encouraging R&D, innovation, entrepreneurship in the domain of Graphic Design, Gaming & Entertainment, Data Analytics & AI, IT Applications in Healthcare & Agritech and and GIS Applications (including Drone Technology) by providing physical infrastructure and support services for prototyping, developing, testing & marketing through incubating start-ups in these domain.
Dr. Omkar Rai, Director General, STPI and Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, Joint Secretary, MeitY, Govt. of India launched 5 CoEs in the august presence of Shri Sridhar Muppidi, Co-Founder Purple Talk India Pvt. Ltd. and Chief mentor for CoE in IT Applications in Graphic Design at Kohima, Shri Pete Draper, CEO, Makuta Effects Pvt. Ltd. and Chief mentor for CoE in CoE in Gaming & Entertainment at Aizawl, Shri Kalyan Kar, Co-Founder & Director, InQube Innoventures Chief mentor for CoE in Data Analytics and AI at Agartala, Shri Rahul Shingrani, Co-Founder & CEO, ten3T Healthcare Chief mentor for CoE in IT applications in healthcare & Agritech at Gangtok, Shri Ankit Mehta, Co-Founder & CEO, ideaForge Technology Pvt. Ltd. Chief mentor for CoE in GIS (including Drone Technology) at Itanagar, Shri P K Das, Director, STPI-Guwahati and Shri Subodh Sachan, Director STPI HQ.
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Omkar Rai, Director General of STPI stated, “OctaNE can revolutionise the tech startup ecosystem in the North East region and enable startups to developing path-breaking products in various emerging tech domains. The entire program of OctaNe has all the ingredients like infrastructure, SIZs & e-Commerce platforms to foster the startups in a collaborative manner. ”
Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Govt. of India, said, “8 CoEs under OctaNE are going to further strengthen the tech startup ecosystem in North East. It will be very exciting for the startups to join these CoEs and shape their ideas into innovative products.”
“OctaNE will come to a full circle with the launch of 5 CoEs in Phase-II. We are ready with infrastructure, labs, SIZs, e-Commerce platform, and onboarding of chief mentors to nurture the startups,’’ said his in welcome address Shri P K Das, Director, STPI-Guwahati.
“OctaNE will ignite the innovation passion of startups, budding entrepreneurs, and innovators based out in North East and revolutionise the tech startup ecosystem in the region while endeavouring towards transforming India as a software product nation,” stated Shri Subodh Sachan, Director, STPI & MD & CEO, STPINEXT at the launch of OctaNE Phase-II.
The objectives of opening these CoEs are:
– To incubate start-ups in new and emerging technologies in the areas of electronics and IT.
– To provide a robust platform for start-ups, with single umbrella support services like mentorship services, seed capital assistance, marketing support (including IPR protection) etc.
– To create employment opportunities in new innovative start-up units.
– To develop a tinkering and innovation culture amongst students and professionals by establishing innovation zones for start-ups;
– Identification of the core problems of the local industry and finding solutions, and
– To facilitate E-Commerce activities and applications.
Locations: – IT Applications in Graphic Design at Kohima, Gaming & Entertainment at Aizawl, Data Analytics & AI at Agartala, IT Applications in Healthcare & Agritech at Gangtok and GIS Applications (including Drone Technology) at Itanagar. Under Phase-I three CoEs Start-up Innovation Zone (SIZ) along with e-facilitation having technology/sector focus viz. IoT in Agriculture at STPI- Guwahati, Animation at STPI Shillong and AR/VR at Imphal have already been launched on 20th July 2020 wherein, selection and on boarding of start-ups is underway.
