Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Thursday inaugurated a Start-Up Incubation Centre of Manipur Technical University temporary campus, Govt. Polytechnic Takyelpat in Imphal West.

The venture is supported by the Planning Department of the state government. The incubation centre will guide and mentor identified and selected technology-based start-ups. 

Speaking as the chief guest, CM Biren Singh said this incubation centre will provide basic training and help in materializing an idea, gain financial assistance for the idea, financial management, marketing, etc.

He explained that the start-up programme is a dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put a check on the brain drain of talented youth to other countries due to lack of facilities, environment, infrastructure, and financial assistance.

Stressing that the start-up programme has been beneficial to the state, CM Biren Singh highlighted that to date, the government has provided financial assistance under the programme to more than 5,200 (approx) start-ups.

Further in his brief speech, Singh expressed concern that people from all walks of life seem to be losing professional ethics and showing more interest in working to their own advantage. We should work together for the present and future generations, he said.

Singh said that he was impressed by the young students of MTU, but at the same time felt sorry for the poor infrastructure at the university.

Calling upon all to keep the university’s campus and surroundings neat and clean, the CM assured proper infrastructure and also expressed that a site for the university has been identified and proposed DPR already submitted to the ministry concerned. The construction of the university will begin once all necessary processes have been completed at the identified site, he added.

The inaugural function was also attended by Education, RD&PR, MAHUD minister Yumnam Khemchand, minister L Susindro Meitei, Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary V Vumlunmang, Manipur Technical University Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Bhabeswar Tongbram, officials, faculties, 16 start-up beneficiaries, students, among others.

The main aim of the incubation centre is to facilitate and incubate the start-ups selected through the state government initiative START-UP MANIPUR and others. 

The incubation centre is in collaboration with Atal Incubation Center (AIC) -Sikkim Manipal University, Business incubation centre to handhold and provides technical expertise in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups. 

Meanwhile, after the inaugural session, the centre also conducted an interactive session and discussed the future prospect and outcomes with 16 Entrepreneurs/start-ups assigned by the planning department to the centre.