New Delhi: The National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) operates under the auspices of the Department of Science & Technology. The functions of the NSTEDB are mentioned below:
1. To act as the policy advisory body to the government on S&T entrepreneurship development.
2. Guiding the department in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs related to S&T entrepreneurship.
3. Instructions for generating new programs / schemes.
NSTEDB has supported various programs promoting the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. NSTEDB has supported Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) in academic institutions as part of its NIDHI (National Initiative for the Development and Use of Innovations) framework program. These TBI support start-ups in bringing innovative products to market. The board works on the different branches of the NIDHI program and enables young entrepreneurs in various fields such as agritech, edutech, fintech, medtech, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, hygiene etc. to produce ideas. Some of the innovative products recently developed by startups funded by NSTEDB programs are: Ergonomic toilet with raised footrest, non-invasive oral cancer screening and detection, water-saving RO filters, in-space propulsion systems and launchers, IoT capable automated smart cradle etc.
As a quick response to the Covid-19 pandemic, NSTEDB launched a new CAWACH (Center to Reinforce the War on the Covid-19 Health Crisis) initiative in March 2020. A total of 51 startups with Covid-19 were developed market-ready solutions supported under 5 subject areas, e.g. B. Diagnostics, IT, sterilizers and disinfectants, PPE, ventilators and breathing apparatus. Of these 51 startups, more than 70% have already commercialized their products, for example: HFOT (High Flow Oxygen Therapy) device, COVID-19 Detection KITV 2.0, 3-layer machine for the production of surgical masks, genomics-based tool for contact tracking , etc. According to the latest study conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur on NSTEDB programs, the total revenue of graduate and incubated startups in NSTEDB-supported TBIs was over £ 27,000 in 2014-2019.
This information was presented today by the Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, given in the Rajya Sabha.
