NNN | Shillong, July 20: Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) soft launched the first phase of OctaNE – A Centre of Excellence (CoE) in IoT in Agriculture at Guwahati, Animation at Shillong and Emerging Tech-AR/VR at Imphal and simultaneously launched the Open Challenge.
STPIOctaNE is a ground-breaking initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and managed by STPI to transform the digital profile of North-East by providing a robust startup ecosystem to rev up innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging technology.
STPIOctaNE is poised to nurture startups in emerging tech in a collaborative model by facilitating mentoring, funding, marketing & IPR while enabling them to address the challenges of local industry and build software products.
Network of 8 STPICoEs for North East is expected to transform innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. The services available for the beneficiaries of OctaNE shall include Physical infrastructure including 450-seater state-of-the-art incubation (200- Guwahati, 150-Shillong and Imphal-100).
Along with E-Commerce facilitation and Tinkering Lab in each of the three centre, mentoring, financial support through seed funding, technical Support, marketing support, IPR/Patenting facilitation and legal, accounting and other support services will be provided to start-ups.
The soft-launch of “OctaNE Idea Challenge Programme” is done by Dr. Omkar Rai, Director General, STPI and Rajiv Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology. Kumaran Venkatesh, President and Partner at AXLerate Now and Cheif mentor for CoE in IoT in Agriculture, at Guwahati and Biren Ghose, Country Head, Technicolor and Chief mentor for CoE in Animation at Shillong, P K Das, Director, STPI-Guwahati and Subodh Sachan, Director STPI HQ were also present.