Rs.1.5 Cr ‘Innovate for Digital India’ Challenge Open to Academia, Entrepreneurs & Startups

Intel in India and the Department of Science and Technology today announced the call for entries for the Intel & DST- “Innovate for Digital India Challenge”. The challenge is aimed at fostering a culture of innovation, create solutions that can address local needs and build an empowered ecosystem for pervasive technology adoption in the country. The challenge will be open to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, innovators, academia, designers, engineers and makers from diverse backgrounds. To participate in the challenge, candidates must log on towww.innovatefordigitalindia.intel.in and register their projects at the earliest. The registration closes on June 22, 2015.

Participants of the Intel & DST- Innovate For Digital India Challenge will be mentored by industry stalwarts and Intel experts. The participants will be trained in technical know-how, will be provided access to product kits and infrastructure and multiple commercialization opportunities. They will be offered market linkages and access to funds at various stages to enable them to make their solutions readily deployable. The challenge has been designed in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology^* (DST), with support from the Department for Electronics and Information Technology^*, MyGov.in^* and will be managed by IIM Ahmedabad’s Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship^*(CIIE). 

Narendra Bhandari, Director, Software and Services Group, Intel Asia Pacific & Japan, Naganand Doraswamy EVP & co-founder SPAN Infotech & President TIE Bengaluru and Shankar Maruwada, CEO & Co-founder Ekstep led the announcement of the challenge at a press meet today. 

“Innovation is part of Intel’s DNA,” said Narendra Bhandari “This challenge combines Intel’s history of creating innovative technology with government’s Digital India vision, complemented by entrepreneurial talent to create a sustainable technology ecosystem. Through this challenge, we aim to encourage people to come forward and participate and create solutions that will help make Digital India, a reality.”

Naganand Doraswamy, EVP & co-founder SPAN Infotech & President TIE Bengaluru, said, “It is wonderful to see Intel actively collaborating with the government in the product start-up space. The Intel & DST Innovate For Digital India Challenge will offer a platform to the young creative minds of Karnataka to showcase their ideas and build start-ups that can make a difference in the Indian market.”

Speaking at the event, Shankar Maruwada, Co-founder & CEO Ekstep said,” Innovate For Digital India Challenge promises to be a timely platform for young creative minds across the country and we are extremely excited to be part of this challenge as this is the right time for students, innovators, and aspiring entrepreneurs in Karnataka to come forward and pave the way for enabling an innovative ecosystem.”