NIRDPR to hold Rural Innovators Startup Conclave next month

The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) will organise a two-day event on September 27-28 to promote rural innovators and start-ups.

Being introduced in the memory of former President late A P J Abdul Kalam, the 3rd edition of Rural Innovators Startup Conclave (RISC) seeks to provide a platform to innovators and entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations and connect them with potential funding and network support.

The conclave will be held at NIRDPR's campus here.

The institute has invited online nominations from innovators, start-ups and students on or before August 30, 2019, an official statement said.

The themes of the conclave are agriculture and allied activities, green energy solution, waste to wealth, health and elderly care, drinking water and sanitation, sustainable housing, and sustainable livelihood, NIRDPR said.

The best start-ups and innovations will be awarded cash prize of Rs 1,00,000 and and Rs 50,000, respectively. Besides, they will also get a one-year fellowship to participate in tailor-made workshops on themes such as design, packaging, marketing, among others, to be organized by NIRDPR.

"Humongous problems which are plaguing the rural areas can only be addressed by constant infusion of innovations and technologies focused on mitigating these issues. The RISC programme aims to provide critical support to innovators from rural areas who know these issues better than anyone else to work towards addressing these challenges," NIRDPR Director General W R Reddy said.

NIRDPR will play a key role by connecting these innovators with appropriate institutions and investors who have the technological and financial means of catering to the entrepreneurial aspirations of the youth, he added.