The Centre’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU aims to foster collaboration, mentorship, and support for startups in the region. The signing took place during “Jammu Kashmir Konnect,” a special startup-focused programme organized at JKEDI’s Baribrahamna campus.
Startups, incubators, and key stakeholders gathered to discuss innovation and growth opportunities. The MoU between DPIIT and JKEDI paves the way for greater branding, outreach, and accessibility to Startup India’s ecosystem. It focuses on fostering mentorship, knowledge exchange, and infrastructure support.
The initiative also aims to provide market linkages, funding networks, and international expansion possibilities. During the programme, the Directors of DPIIT and JKEDI held one-on-one interactions with various incubators. They discussed the challenges, needs, and future plans of the incubators.
MoU signed for startup support
The session provided a platform for incubators to share insights, suggest improvements, and seek policy-level support to enhance the startup ecosystem. JKEDI Director Rajinder Kumar Sharma highlighted the impact of the J&K Startup Policy, launched in March 2024.
The policy has resulted in over 250 new startup registrations on the DPIIT portal, bringing the total to 988 in a short span. Sharma also emphasized the significant outreach efforts undertaken by JKEDI. During the current financial year, the institute has successfully conducted 601 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes.
These programmes were held across universities, colleges, higher secondary schools, and IITs in 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The initiatives underscore the growing momentum in Jammu and Kashmir’s startup ecosystem. They also highlight the collaborative efforts to nurture and sustain it.
The MoU aligns with India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047, according to the official statement.