DST, Intel and IIT Bombay collaborate to launch incubation program for hardware startups

In a bid to give much need impetus to hardware startup ecosystem, Department of Science & Technology (DST) of Government of India, Intel Technology India Pvt. Ltd and Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (SINE), IIT Bombay have set up a new collaborative incubation program to support hardware and systems-based start-ups.

SINE is the business incubator at IIT Bombay which supports technology start-ups that are based on products or intellectual property. 

Under this program, industry, academia and the government together will support hardware and systems-based start-ups in the country through mentoring, training, lab facilities, hardware kits, prototyping, business services, and funding. Initial funding for start ups may vary between Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakh.

The program, which is aimed at addressing gaps in the ecosystem that companies face in product design, development, commercialization, and creating scale for their solutions,  will support up to 20 start-ups.

The call for applications for the first batch will be announced in early August 2016.  During the year-long program, start-ups will be supported for six months either on-site at SINE, IIT, Bombay or in Intel India, Bengaluru.  After a period of six months, the start-ups’ solutions will be showcased to investors and industry players. Post six months, the program will extend virtual support for these start ups.

The incubation program will entail intensive training periods, one-on-one mentoring, technology related support from Intel experts, business service support from SINE, as well as prototyping and manufacturing support.  Start ups will be able to build capacities through mentors and get technology related support for productization.

The program will also facilitate ideation, design thinking, prototyping workshops and manufacturing support through industry experts.