MSDE, ABCF, and BITS Pilani Collaborate to Launch Innovation and Start-up Challenge for NSTI Students

Mumbai: In a bid to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students, the Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has collaborated with Aditya Birla Capital Foundation (ABCF) and Pilani Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS), the incubator of BITS Pilani. This partnership aims to nurture skill-based innovation in National Skills Training Institutes (NSTI) across the country, which provide vocational training to over 10,000 students.

Despite the presence of support systems for innovations at the school and higher education levels, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, which encompasses over 13 lakh students enrolled in ITIs and NSTIs, lacks adequate support. The majority of TVET graduates are absorbed into the industry, work as trainers or educators, or engage in traditional self-employment trades.

At the launch, Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, MSDE, Government of India, stated, “We believe that every skilled individual has the potential to become a job creator. Through this partnership with Aditya Birla Capital Foundation, we are empowering NSTI students to channel their technical skills into innovation and enterprise. The Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha will enable our young innovators to transform ideas into sustainable ventures, aligning with India’s vision of becoming an Aatmanirbhar and innovation-driven nation.”

The innovation challenge, titled Navonmesh Protsahan Spardha: Kaushalta se Udyamita, has been launched to foster skill-based innovation in NSTI students. This first-of-its-kind challenge will cater to over 10,000 NSTI students, providing mentoring, prizes, access to resources, and further incubation to launch their ideas in the market. The program will focus on students with innovative ideas in IT/ITeS, Automotive, Apparel, Electronics & Hardware, Power, and Capital Goods & Manufacturing sectors. Pilani Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS), the incubator of BITS Pilani, will manage this program, which is supported under the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of the Aditya Birla Capital Foundation.