CSIR-IMTECH holds lifesciences startup meet under ‘One Week One Lab’ program

New Delhi: CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH) in collaboration with Punjab Biotechnology Incubator organized a life sciences startup meet at the institute in Chandigarh under the One Week One Lab program.

This life sciences startup has been organized to ensure necessary convergence and synergy in various Central and State programs for promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and startup driven research ecosystem.

With Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer(FITT) , Startup Punjab, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and Atal Incubation Centre -CCMB as knowledge partners for the event; more than 50 startups participated in the event from different regions of the tricity and Punjab.

CSIR-IMTECH is celebrating ‘One Week One Lab (OWOL)’ program from June 19 to June 24, 2023 under CSIR- One Week One Lab Campaign which was launched by Honorable Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh. Dr Sanjeev Khosla, Director IMTECH while welcoming the guests laid a strong emphasis for such enhanced interactions between startups & R&D institutes like IMTECH. He gave a brief account of the facilities and infrastructure that could be used by Startups for developing their technologies in the area of life sciences.

Dr Ajit Dua, CEO of Punjab Biotechnology Incubator gave an overview about the startup support ecosystem available at PBTI that will help connect the entrepreneurs with global network of venture capital, angel funds and mentors. Dr Ajay Srivastava, Director STPI shared his views on the facilities available for startups in the domain of Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics at STPI Mohali. Mr. Deepindar Dhillon, Joint Director, Department of Technology, Government of Punjab shared his views with startups on initiatives of Punjab Government to support startups and strengthen entrepreneurship culture in the region.

Success stories and entrepreneurial journey were shared by founders of different startups who harped that each startup has a different journey and trajectory till the time it becomes self-sustainable. They applauded the efforts of PBTI & IMTECH to give them a platform to network with peers, leaders and discuss ideas, issues, mentoring and opportunities with scientists. Senior leaders from BIRAC & Startup India also shared their views on the efforts taken by the Government of India to provide funding opportunities for startups during different stages of their progression. Distinguished panel of speakers from the industry and angel networks suggested the different mechanisms under which startups should work and raise funding.

CSIR-IMTECH is a national center for excellence in microbial sciences and was established in 1984 under the aegis of CSIR. IMTECH’s vision and mission are to create translational ecosystem strengthened by fundamental discoveries and to address unmet healthcare and industrial needs with state-of-the-art processes and platforms.