Guwahati: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati is set to organize a research and industrial conclave from January 20 to 23 to encourage industrial interactions and boost startups, the institute said in a statement.

The IIT Guwahati Research Park is organising this conclave, which would see an amalgamation of academia, industry and startups. In a bid to boost industrial interactions and startup activities, industrial interaction and entrepreneurial events are included in the annual research conclave for the first time.

TG Sitharam, director of IIT Guwahati, said, “As stated by our Prime Minister, we are in the golden era of startups. Being one of the leading institutes for research and innovation, IIT Guwahati wishes to contribute to create a startup-friendly ecosystem. I invite the entrepreneurs to join our Technology Incubation Centre and Research Park, where we not only provide technical mentorship but also access to our resources and opportunities to work with our faculties and students to develop new technologies.

The institute has taken up various initiatives for encouraging startups and entrepreneurial activities. New grants and incubation are being provided to promising startups by the IIT Guwahati Technology Innovation and Development Foundation, recently incorporated as a section 8 company by the institute.

The institute signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a defence innovation organisation iDEX and PSUs such as OIL INDIA, NRL to fund the startups. It also has tie-ups with nationalised and private banks for providing loans to the incubated startups. It runs a special scheme for women entrepreneurs.

The IIT Guwahati Technology Innovation and Development Foundation has two divisions. Through its TIH division, it provides a grant of up to Rs 10 lakh for startups working on underwater exploration and incubating them in the Technology Incubation Centre. Through its BioNest division, it directly incubates bio-related incubators.

The institute recently organised a special panel discussion on ‘Success of a start-up: Opportunities and Challenges’ to mark the National Startup Day.