Officials and others during state level workshop-cum-cum technology innovation meet in Kohima on March 14. (Morung Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 14
The AIC (Atal Incubation Centre) SELCO Foundation organised a state level workshop cum technology innovation meet in collaboration with SDG Coordination Centre, Planning & Transformation Department, Nagaland at Hotel Vivor, Kohima on March 14.
Addressing the workshop, Nayantara Sasikumar, IES, OSD (Planning) & SDG Nodal officer said that Nagaland state has been actively pursuing the implementation of the ‘Nagaland SDG Vision 2030– Leaving No One Behind.’
The Government of Nagaland through the Sustainable Development Goals Coordination Centre (SDGCC), Planning & Transformation Department has been involved in strengthening the SDG localisation & integration of the state since 2019, she said adding that the SDGCC is a dedicated centre for knowledge dissemination, monitoring and policy strengthening for SDG implementation across Nagaland.
“We are very happy to collaborate with the AIC SELCO Foundation, a reputed organisation that works across the North East region for enabling and empowering sustainable energy based innovators to scale up,” she said. Through this initiative, we aim at furthering the SDGs in the state and specifically SDG 9 i.e. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, she said.
Sasikumar said that the department has been promoting sustainable innovation through initiatives such as ‘SDG Innovation Participatory Action Research Initiative’ by inviting proposals for sustainable result-driven innovations from the communities.
“It is remarkable to see the number of good applications, and innovative ideas that we have received so far. We are still in the process of finalizing the winners of the initiatives for this year,” she said.
Sasikumar maintained that there is so much potential in Nagaland for indigenous low cost innovative and sustainable technology solutions. ‘The role of knowledge, innovation, technology, creativity and collaborations in spurring economic development and productivity is paramount,’ she said.
It would indeed be unfortunate if the creativity and innovation demonstrated by participants here is not unleashed and scaled up for the wider good of the communities and world at large, Sasikumar maintained.
Through this initiative, she said ‘the AIC-SELCO Foundation and SDGCC with the support of relevant Government departments and local organisations, wish to enable the innovators to develop into successful and sustainable enterprises and create an ecosystem for the future generation, who have the passion and the understanding to become successful entrepreneurs through innovation.’
“This may be a small step for us today but I believe this can and should lead to a giant leap for developing the innovation economy in the state of Nagaland and India at large,” Sasikumar said.
Meanwhile, she thanked the participating departments i.e. Science & Technology, Nagaland Tool Room and Training Centre, industries and commerce for identifying and mobilizing the local innovators of the state.
Er Awalo Keppen, Assistant Manager, Nagaland Tool Room & Training Centre in his address said that NTTC has been selected as one of the start-up incubators under Startup Nagaland. He said that with adequate state-of-the-art machinery, the NTTC is ready to extend its services to all innovators.
Er Kevitso Kenneth, Senior Scientific Officer, Science & Technology in his address thanked the AIC SELCO, SDGCC, Planning & Transformation for organising this important event. He believed that this workshop will give an insight into scouting, supporting, and spawning local innovators.
Later, YouthNet led expert session on ‘Building ecosystem for technology innovators and start-ups.’ The workshop also witnessed discussion session on innovators, entrepreneurs and incubator perspective towards their start-ups journey in the north east, challenges, opportunities and success stories. Earlier, welcome address was delivered by Gaurav Barthakur, AIC Team.
