With an aim to enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem within higher education institutions (HEIs), the Ministry of Education, under the stewardship of Secretary K. Sanjay Murthy, virtually inaugurated the ‘Capacity Building on Design and Entrepreneurship (CBDE)’ program. This pioneering initiative aims to empower HEIs and faculty members to nurture a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among students, in collaboration with industry experts.
The virtual launch, attended by over 130 participants, witnessed the convergence of key stakeholders including officials from the Department of Higher Education, members of the Program Advisory Council, industry mentors, and representatives from shortlisted HEIs.
Highlighting the program’s strategic approach, Secretary K. Sanjay Murthy emphasized the pivotal role of industry-academia collaboration in driving innovation and fostering entrepreneurial spirit. He underscored the rigorous selection process which identified 30 HEIs to spearhead the implementation of the CBDE program, with support from industry mentors.
Led by IIITDM Kancheepuram, designated as the Nodal Centre, the program is designed to imbue students with a problem-solving mindset and nurture creative solutions to complex challenges. Through one-to-one mentoring and generative dialogues among faculty, students, and industry partners, the program aims to facilitate the transformation of students into entrepreneurs.
Industry stalwarts expressed optimism about the program’s potential impact. They emphasized the importance of cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset among students and fostering linkages with global investors and industry players.
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, envisioned the program as a catalyst for addressing locally relevant challenges and gaining global recognition for innovative solutions developed by young entrepreneurs.
Industry mentors, including Dr. Miftahul Barbaruah from Confederation of Indian Industry, Assam Chapter, and Shri Chandrasekaran Balakrishnan, former Chief Digital Data and Innovation Officer at Marsh McLennan Asia, lauded the program’s focus on building HEI capacities to nurture entrepreneurship and tackle societal challenges.
In charting the way forward, Prof. Sudhir Varadarajan, Program Director at IIITDM Kancheepuram, provided guidance to participating HEIs on the implementation roadmap, underscoring the importance of collaborative action to realize the program’s objectives.
