To back startups, govt to set up instrumentation incubators in 5 cities

Robotics, gaming, aerospace, 3-D printing among priority areas The Information Technology department will soon set up ‘instrumentation incubators’ to encourage startups in the emerging areas of robotics, nano-technology, 3-D printing, system design and clean technology among others. These incubators will come up at Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga and Kalaburagi and, the state government recently released Rs 70 crore for the purpose. Besides, Rs 30 crore has been released for innovation. Incubation centres provide an eco-system for startups helping them with services, technology know-how and office space. At present, most of the startups in the state are confined to software, mobile apps and internet applications. “We feel that Information Technology and Information Technology Enabled Services in the state have matured and the time has come for the next big leap forward. We plan to diversify by encouraging startups in the areas of aerospace, robotics, gaming, animation, system design and manufacturing,” Minister of State for IT&BT Priyank Kharge told DH. In this direction, the state government has decided to provide a fillip to instrumentation incubators and hardware accelerators. At these centres, startups can get access to industrial tools and machinery on rent on a need basis by paying nominal fees. “Some of the equipment required for development of products are very expensive and startup companies may not be able to buy them. They can rent them at the incubation centres,” Kharge said. In Bengaluru, the incubation centre will come up at the state-owned Keonics complex at HSR Layout. “In other places we are looking for complexes owned by the government or we will take them on rent to set up the centres,” the minister said. The number of companies that have registered with the state government’s startup cell has increased from 27 around four months ago to 2,357 till date. Startups that enrol with the ‘booster kit’ of the cell get access to software tools, mentors, legal and accounting consultants besides state funds. Kharge said his department will now make “Startup Open House” a monthly affair wherein the minister and department officials will interact with company representatives.