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Step into the future
 By Vernon Fernandez ('04 EEE)
The
newly launched Technology Business Incubator has been. set up by BITS
in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology. TBI@BITS
is an initiative to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the
field of VLSI and Embedded Systems. This is one of the only Technology
Business Incubators set up around the country to offer the resources it
has.
TBI is exactly what the name suggests, an incubator. It is a chance for
fledgling businesses to grow. The basic aim of the TBI initiative is to
encourage entrepreneurship in Pilani, and to allow a larger audience to
make use of the facilities available at BITS.
Any startup seeded out of TBI will be provided with office space for 18
months. These offices are furnished with all the necessary facilities,
including facilities for Broadband Internet and
tele-conferencing. The entrepreneurs would also be given access
to the tools and resources of the Oyster Lab and the Embedded Systems
lab. Obtaining access to tools like these will cut down on almost 60%
of the hurdles that a start-up faces. Also available will be free
access to the library and other facilities at BITS. These entrepreneurs
could also approach the faculty for help from time to time.
Helping out at every stage will be the Center for Entrepreneurial
Learning (CEL), BITS Pilani who will provide all the possible business
support in the form of mentoring, access to seed funding and networking
events. The entire program can be availed of by anyone, though
preference may be given to BITSians. The entrepreneurs will only have
to pay a nominal fee for all the services. Being on campus also gives
them the opportunity to involve on-campus students in their work in the
form of projects.
Although the TBI has been set-up to incubate VLSI and embedded systems
design companies, the initiative may also expand to other disciplines,
if the participants wish to use other labs of the institute.
Prof. S Gurunarayanan, the co-coordinator of the project hopes that in
5 years, not only will TBI be self-sufficient and self-sustaining, but
it will have fostered businesses which will in turn provide more
employment for the masses.
CEL also kicked off another initiative this year titled InnoHub. The publicity material put-up by CEL proclaims “We openly discriminate… between those who innovate and those who don’t.” Not mincing words at all, InnoHub aims to create an ecosystem that guides BITSians interested in doing research in any field.
InnoHub will connect alumni, faculty and the students to backup new
research ideas with technical know-how, mentoring, funding and other
resources. In time, a few ideas from InnoHub might be realized using
the TBI platform.
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TBI contacts
Prof. S Gurunarayanan, Coordinator
email
Anurup Mitra, Program Manager
email
InnoHub contacts
Chinmay Kulkarni, Project-lead
Website
Abhilash Ravishankar, President, CEL.
email
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The last date for submitting project ideas for this year has just
passed. After an initial screening, by a panel of distinguished members
of the BITSian faculty, the best research ideas will be given all the
necessary resources and support possible. Ideas ranging from artificial
neural networks to new areas of research in bio-pharmacy have been
received.
ALUMNI INVOLVEMENT
Both TBI and InnoHub
necessitate a network of minds outside academia, which have worked in
the industry and know industry and market requirements. CEL is in the
process of building a network of mentors from BITSian alumni, as well
as through their referrals, in order to help the students and
entrepreneurs get in touch with experts in their fields. This
will allow the student or entrepreneur to gain valuable experience and
know-how, besides real-world exposure.
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