BioNEST Bioincubator Center
BioNEST Bioincubator Center at NEHU, Tura Campus was
established in the year of 2021 as a holistic bio-incubation facility with an
aim to nurture startups and entrepreneurs in developing innovative solutions,
commercialization and scaling up of technologies in the area of Agri-Food
Biotechnology and Dairy Technology utilizing natural indigenous resources of North-Eastern
region. The primary focus would be promoting Ventures and Businesses in the
North-East region through hand-holding programs.
Activities & Strategy
Presently the newly established BioNEST Bioincubator Center
at NEHU Tura Campus is envisioned to pave its path with three-fold strategies.
A. To identify student (UG,
PG, PhD) innovators, promote and support them to evolve self-sustaining
business models.
In India, innovation is still not the
epicentre of education. Our educational system often gives birth to job seekers
rather than job producers. In order to bring the shift in culture and outlook,
we are recognising “Entrepreneurial Ambassadors†among Faculty Members from
each of the departments of our university and from neighbouring institutes.
Certain specialised training programs will be organised for the
“Entrepreneurial Ambassadors†and they will eventually work to cultivate the
innovation ecosystem within the university and neighbouring academia to harness
the entrepreneurial potential of the young minds.
B. To identify potential SMEs
working in the field of Agro-Food Biotechnology and Dairy Technology in the
state of Meghalaya and around
In association with the
Government of Meghalaya, the existing SMEs are being identified mainly through
the Promotion and Incubation of Market Driven Enterprises (PRIME) portal. Most
of the SMEs are engaged in packaging and supplying of indigenous resources such
as Lakadong Turmeric, black pepper, cashew, jackfruit, pineapple, orchid, herbs
etc to neighbouring states and abroad in its raw form. We are looking forward
to forming collaborations with the SMEs in converting the indigenous resources
into value added, processed foods with higher shelf life and nutritional
values.
C. Popularisation and
awareness about the BIRAC schemes among the neighbouring academia and SMEs.