NIDHI PROGRAMME (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Union Minister of Science and Technology recently inaugurated 8 new NIDHI i-TBIs across India and launched a DST-NIDHI website at IIT Delhi, marking 8 years of the Department of Science and Technology’s NIDHI initiative.

NIDHI Programme

• About: It is an umbrella programme conceived and developed by the Technology Translation and Innovation (TTI) Division, Department of Science & Technology.
• Full form: National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI)
• Objective: To nurture Startups through scouting, supporting and scaling of innovations by providing them with a series of programme components tailored towards the critical initial phases of the Startup journey.
• Key Components:

oNIDHI PRAYAS: Promotion and Acceleration of Young and Aspiring technology entrepreneurs – Support from Idea to Prototype

oNIDHI – EIR: Entrepreneur In Residence – Support system to reduce risk for entrepreneurs.

oNIDHI – TBI: Technology Business Incubator (NIDHI-TBI) – Converting Innovations to start-ups.

oNIDHI – iTBI: Inclusive- Technology Business Incubator – A new variant of the NIDHI-TBI launched in 2022-’23.

oNIDHI – Accelerator: Startup Acceleration Programme – Fast tracking a start-up through focused intervention.

oNIDHI – SSS: Seed Support System – Providing early stage investment

oNIDHI – COE: Centres of Excellence – Globally competitive facilities to help startups go global.

• Funding Agency: National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB).
• 8 new NIDHI i-TBIs across India: 1. Central University of Rajasthan Ajmer.2. Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Ludhiana, Punjab 3. BLDE Bijapur, Karnataka 4. Aligarh Muslim University 5. Pranveer Singh Institute of Technology Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 6. Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (Central University) Bilaspur, 7. GSSS Institute of Engineering and Technology for Women Mysore, Karnataka 8. University of Petroleum & Energy Studies (UPES) Dehradun,)

i-TBIs (Inclusive TBI)

• It is a three years duration initiative Supported by DST for educational institutions who are likely to foster innovation and entrepreneurship culture among the students, faculties, entrepreneurs, and nearby communities.