Did you know that the Global Hunger Index (2020) has placed India at an appalling 94th spot among 107 countries? In fact, child and maternal malnutrition are responsible for 15% of the total disease burden in the country. The reality of hunger and malnutrition hovers closer than one might even imagine.
In wake of a future invaded by hunger and health disasters stemming from malnourishment, the nutritional and preventive healthcare solutions are being pushed to the forefront, amplifying the need for innovation in Food & Nutrition and its inclusive accessibility.
IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, in collaboration with BIRAC, introduces the SPARSH Social Innovation Immersion Program to scout for food innovators and support them with knowledge, research resources and fellowship / grant towards developing and commoditizing nutritional food products, processes, and services that are affordable and easily available.
The selected fellows for the Social Innovation Immersion Program will be provided with multiple valuable benefits.
SPARSH is a Social Innovation Immersion Program of BIRAC aimed towards finding innovative solutions to the
most pressing problems in the agriculture sector through biotechnological interventions.
The program aims to:
Support will include
BIRAC-SPARSH Fellows should fulfill the following requirements
IIM Calcutta innovation Park (IIMCIP) is a nonprofit company set up under the aegis of IIM Calcutta to promote entrepreneurship and innovation and established itself as a premier hub of entrepreneurship development in East and Northeast India.
IIMCIP is a BIRAC SPARSH Centre to execute the Social Innovation Immersion Program in the AgriTech Sector in 2020-21.
Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a not-for-profit Section 8, Schedule B, Public Sector Enterprise, set up by Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India as an Interface agency to strengthen and empower the emerging biotechnology enterprises to undertake strategic research and innovation, addressing nationally relevant product development needs.
BIRAC is an industry-academia interface and implements its mandate through a wide range of impact initiatives, be it providing access to risk capital through targeted funding, technology transfer, IP management and handholding schemes that help bring innovation excellence to the biotech firms and make them globally competitive. In its five years of existence, BIRAC has initiated several schemes, networks and platforms that help to bridge the existing gaps in the industry-academia innovation research and facilitate novel, high quality affordable products development through cutting edge technologies. BIRAC has initiated partnerships with several national and global partners to collaborate and deliver the salient features of its mandate.
Please log in to BIRAC website https://bit.ly/3CPviS1 and apply.
In the application form, select IIM Calcutta Innovation Park as SPARSH Centre.
In case of doubts you can email contact@iimcip.org.
A business idea is a concept for commercial purposes and typically centers on a product or service that can be sold for money by adopting an operational and practical model. The characteristics of a unique business idea are:
The process of improvement in the existing product/services in its manufacturing/delivery/use and applicability by way of technology and enhances efficiency adding to its value proposition/benefits is termed as innovation. For example, the mobile app services are innovation for delivering product and services which were earlier possible to be delivered only through a computer.
The product/services which are traditionally in the market may be improved upon in a multiple manner so as to differentiate them. The product/service differentiator usually comes with improvement of quality, service and overall standardization. For example, the intervention of technology helped in railway ticket/bus ticket and hotel booking. Similarly, packaging of milk helped it improve ease of handling and sale anytime during the day.
Defining the challenges in a business and in production of products or delivery of services in clear terms is a problem statement. Writing a problem statement helps in analysis and arriving at solutions to the challenges.
Any new idea or concept when translates into a product/services is first tested within closed group of experts is a testimony of the proof of concept. The incubation centers are usually the places that provide the support and services for proof of concept of new idea/concept. The PoC is a stage before the test marketing (or beta stage) of any product/services.
An entity shall be considered as a Startup:
The business that focuses and registers enough profits so as to serve its own cost of existence and grow on a year on year basis is a sustainable business. The products and services of the business remains relevant in its value proposition and benefits to its customers to be in demand sustains itself.
Incubation is a process whereby an entrepreneur/organization get help for their new and startup business to develop by providing services such as management training, capital or office space. The incubation provides the eco-system for harnessing new business idea/concept and develop it into a commercial venture.
Mentoring involves advising or training an individual or a group of individuals and guiding them pertaining to their respective activity or domain. This involves counseling, training and guidance by experts. A mentor can be anyone who helps a new individual learn and understand the nuances of a particular activity/work/business/art/trade. Mentor usually have long years of hands on expertise in their area of work and have demonstrated success in their field.