Bharat SainiLast Updated on March 3, 2018 by Bharat Saini
iCreate, International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology, located at Deo Dholera village, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 17 January 2018. The venture has been started to promote and nurture entrepreneurs by providing them finance, mentors and technology.
iCreate is an independent Centre created with the objective of facilitating entrepreneurship through a blend of creativity, innovation, engineering, product design and leveraging emerging technologies to deal with major issues such as food security, water, connectivity, cyber security, IT and electronics, energy, bio-medical equipment and devices etc. iCreate aims to develop an ecosystem in India to generate quality entrepreneurs.
- iCreate is an independent centre to promote Narendra Modi’s ‘Start-up India’ scheme
- iCreate aims to provide technology and assistance to “the innovative and imaginative minds in their entrepreneurial journey.”
- iCreate is a joint venture between Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Limited (GMDC) and Gujarat Entrepreneurship and Venture Promotion Foundation (GEVPF),
- Business leaders from various sectors have associated with the project.
- iCreate’s advisory board consists of Dilip Shanghvi, MD, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, at the helm; with Uday Kotak, Executive Vice Chairman and MD of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Narayan Murthy, Infosys co-founder and Professor Jagdish Bhagwati among others.
- iCreate provides 13-week grooming program to equip an individual with the right skill and tools required in the entrepreneurial world.
- At the end of this, the participants have the option to pitch their idea for further development.
- Proposals are evaluated by an independent panel and selected subsequently.
- Financial assistance up to Rs 50000 is provided by the venture for few deserving pitches.
- A platform is also provided for the participants to meet leaders from various sectors.
- Students, existing entrepreneurs, traders, small sized businessmen can participate in the program. The skeleton business panel will be evaluated by the mentors and further guidance will be provided.
Modi addressing the gathering said that innovation has a key role to play in bringing the people of India and Israel, closer to each other. The entire world has taken note of the technological prowess and creativity of Israel. The youth of India has energy and enthusiasm and needs a bit of encouragement and institutional support that iCreate will provide. The Government is working to make the entire system innovation-friendly, so that intent can generate ideas; ideas lead to innovation; and innovation helps create a New India.
Netanyahu while addressing the event at the iCreate centre said, “I am delighted to be here. The world knows about iPads and iPods, there is one more ‘i’ that the world needs to know about, that is iCreate.” He added that Prime Minister Modi understood the transformative power of technology and young people, as these two are the future. Modi is changing India by the force and vision of his leadership. He is revolutionizing India as one of the world’s great power.
