'City to have more IT incubation centres':Advisor

By 1 2 1 News Reporter

Chandigarh 20^th November:--- UT Adviser to the Administrator, K K Sharma stressed on the need for having more IT incubation centres in the city while addressing the inaugural session of two-day IT Conclave, Destination IT @ North, being organised by IT Depts of UT & Punjab, CII & STPI with 'Thinking Ahead of the Curve through Innovation' as the theme. "While the IT Park has the Entrepreneur Development Centre (EDC) already operational, but the existing government buildings can also be used for setting up such additional centres.

Adviser to the Administrator, K K Sharma added that the governments should provide independent spaces and come up with more IT Parks and allocate budgets to promote IT industry.  K.K.Sharma also announced that the Chandigarh Administration would be coming up with its IT Policy shortly. He further said that IT has an influence on our lives and it is good to see IT industry growing in the region. We can still adopt more practices to strengthen the IT sector which has seen tremendous growth in the last seven to eight years ever since Chandigarh set up its IT Park. Looking at the employment opportunities available in IT sector, he said, not many jobs can be created in bigger companies but start-ups have huge potential and bright future ahead with so much of innovation happening around us.  K.K.Sharma also said that health and education are two sectors which are demanding innovation and has a bright future for young entrepreneurs. 

While addressing the IT professionals at the conclave, Ms Prerna Puri, Secretary, IT, Chandigarh Administration, said that there is a unique commonality between innovation and Information Technology. Innovation is to think differently and generate an idea and our IT professionals are now in the leage of top IT companies. Ms. Puri added that innovation in India at grassroots levels is dependent on frugal innovation, what she termed as jugaad in rustic Indian terminology. "Innovation is key to sustained growth and we in Chandigarh Administration are making efforts to make the best use of IT by introducing information kiosks, mobile computing etc", she addded.

A R Talwar, Principal Secretary, Information Technology, Government of Punjab, shared that Punjab government is shortly notifying its IT promotion policy with unique incentives for the industry.  "We are coming up with an IT City in 1700 acres area at Mohali, which happens to be one of the two cities including Amritsar which the state government is promoting as IT destinations for software exports. An incubation centre is also coming up in Amritsar." he added. 

Dr Subhash Bijlani, Professor of Practice, University of Maryland University College, USA said that "Of the 40 million patents across the world, only five percent become Innovation. Innovation has to provide value to the society and new entrepreneurs should work as risk mitigators and not risk takers.

Som Mittal, President, NASSCOM, while unveiling the theme of the conclave said that "Chandigarh is rapidly emerging as an IT destination in north after Noida and Gurgaon. While the global economy is struggling, IT industry in this region is witnessing growth and the real challenge now is fast delivery to the customers." Mr Mittal said Innovation and latest technology can do wonders in the field of education and health care sectors and delivery systems in India. "Change is coming with young entrepreneurs finding solutions for India. The governments are also taking initiatives by building the IT infrastructure. It is heartening to know that 250,000 villages will be connected to broadband soon", he shared. "The tricity offers a phenomenal infrastructure but more incubation centres are needed for city to promote entrepreneurship and provide required eco system to young entrepreneurs", he added.

Dr Omkar Rai, Director General, Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) said that the tricity region is doing really good in IT sector, providing employment to 35000 people and IT sector here is growing at 3 times the national growth rate. The governments of the region are pro-actively encouraging young entrepreneurs in IT sector and coming out with policy incentives to support them. If the tricity region keeps growing at this rate, it is bound to top the table in exports from India in IT sector by 2020.

Manmohan Singh, Chairman, CII Chandigarh Council said that the tricity region is fast becoming an IT & ITeS hub with supportive government policies and high entrepreneurial spirit of the youth from this region. Innovation is indeed the key to achieve our desired targets in its further development.