AKTU to provide Rs 2L for innovation

Lucknow: Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) will provide Rs 2 lakh in funding to affiliated institutions to run innovation and entrepreneurship programmes.Under the AKTU incubator empowerment scheme, up to 20 institutions will be supported each financial year. An AKTU official said, "AKTU is continuously taking steps to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the state. To enable students from all parts of the state to connect with the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, the university's innovation hub has decided to provide Rs 2 lakh in funding to affiliated institutions for organising startup programmes under the AKTU Incubator Empowerment Scheme," said vice-chancellor Prof JP Pandey. . To conduct a startup programme, institutions must partner with the innovation hub to organise entrepreneurship-focused activities such as startup pitchathons, hackathons, bootcamps, startup exhibitions, startup fairs and events linked to ongoing innovation initiatives. Institutions must apply through the innovation hub's website."The innovation hub is continuously working to build a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. Hackathons are organised periodically to provide a platform for promising startups to grow. A large number of startups are associated with the hub and are being supported in their growth," the V-C said.He added that startups receive expert mentoring as well as support through coworking spaces and other platforms. The innovation hub team, including CEO Mahip Singh, is working under the leadership of finance officer Keshav Singh, dean (innovation) Prof BN Mishra and associate dean Anuj Kumar Sharma.