That philosophy will be on display at CIIC’s fifth Mega Demo Day, which brings together 160 startups, around 100 investors, industry leaders, academicians and policymakers. While startup demonstrations, product launches and investment discussions are integral to the event the real vision is to enable technology commercialisation. “Our startups should leave with either an investment or a business commitment,” stresses Dr Parvez Alam, Executive Director.
Triple Helix Advantage
Startup incubation is more than providing office space or seed funding. It is about building an ecosystem that can bridge the long-standing gap between academia, industry and government. It is the triple helix model where these three stakeholders work hand in hand to accelerate innovation. In many developed economies this collaboration happens naturally but in India, still they operate in silos. “Incubators must become the fulcrum that connects research, enterprise and public policy, enabling technologies developed in universities to reach the marketplace,” highlights Dr Alam.
This ecosystem is set to expand further with the launch of the Atal Incubation Centre–CIIC (AIC-CIIC), supported by the Atal Innovation Mission. Dedicated to smart and clean mobility, the centre will nurture startups working on electric and hydrogen mobility, autonomous systems and advanced automotive technologies, strengthening India’s capabilities in one of its fastest-growing industrial sectors.
Preparing job creators, not seekers
Universities must also rethink how they prepare students for the future. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries. Entrepreneurship, design thinking and product development should become integral to higher education. “The objective is not merely to produce graduates seeking employment but innovators capable of creating enterprises and generating jobs,” says Dr Alam. Incubation centres in universities provide that space. It offers the timely and needed support and ultimately turns to an economic development strategy.
Success cannot be measured solely by the number of startups created or funds raised. It lies in commercialisation of research ideas and building sustainable businesses. In that sense, CIIC’s Mega Demo Day is expected to be more than a showcase. It will be a demonstration of how universities can become engines of industrial transformation and innovation-led growth.
Building an Entrepreneurial University
In an era where knowledge is available at the click of a button universities can no longer measure success solely by the number of graduates they produce. The innovator and entrepreneurs who ultimately graduate and create an economic value become the measuring yard stick.
“This Mega Demo Day will be a showcase of such innovators. Equally important is, it will inspire students as they see their peers building successful ventures,” says Abdul Qadir A Rahman Buhari, Pro-Chancellor of B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology and Chairman of the Crescent Innovation and Incubation Council (CIIC). Since its inception, CIIC has remained focused on three outcomes: creating jobs, generating economic value and encouraging intellectual property through patents.
Measurable outcomes
Over the years, the incubator has translated that vision into measurable outcomes. Startups incubated at CIIC have created morethan 2100 jobs and generated cumulative sales of nearly Rs 1700 crore over the past five years, with annual revenues touching Rs 400 crore last year alone. “The next challenge is even bigger. Startups must continuously improve their valuation and become stronger businesses capable of attracting successive rounds of investment,” points Buhari.
To create a thriving ecosystem, traditional classroom teaching alone is no longer sufficient. Students need continuous exposure to industry through internships, collaborative projects and programmes developed jointly with companies. To enable this, the university has expanded partnerships with global technology firms and learning platforms, introducing industry-oriented programmes in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics and biotechnology while providing students access to internationally recognised online learning resources. “Universities should move beyond teaching students how to use AI tools and instead make them understand how these technologies are built and applied,” highlights Buhari. This thinking has led the university to partner with the US-based Revature, becoming the first institution in India to adopt its industry-oriented technology training model.
Four pillars for future
Yet employability extends far beyond all these technical competencies. Soft skills like communication, networking, collaboration and ability to adapt to changing environments becomes necessary. “We are not creating engineers but good human beings,” says Buhari. The university is focussing on faculty development, internships and continuous interaction with industry to ensure that their graduated are rounded and well equipped.
Buhari’s long-term vision is simple yet powerful – teaching, research, innovation and entrepreneurship. Research that moves beyond journals and leads to patents, licensing opportunities or startups that solve real problems. “Universities should benchmark themselves against the world’s best institutions, embrace industry partnerships and produce graduates capable not only of finding employment but of creating enterprises,” stresses Buhari. This will make higher education an genuine engine of economic transformation. With inputs from Mohamed Ameen M
