'NAIN startup project gains fame'

 New Age Incubation Network (NAIN), a startup initiative promoted by the Karnataka government, has really helped in bridging the gap between academia and industry, said state IT/BT and Tourism Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday.

Delivering the inaugural address at the fifth National Entrepreneurship Summit organised by Young Indians (Yi), a part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), here, Kharge said that Karnataka has always pursued disruption and transformative governance.

“The state government launched the startup initiative NAIN under the aegis of Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services (KBITS) which has really helped government institutions to encourage student projects through mentoring and monetary support,” he said.

Kharge said the government has given support of Rs 3 lakh per project for students in the rural areas as part of NAIN. “The startup project already funded a 180-student group, and 70 startup companies are incorporated till now,” said Kharge.

The minister also pointed out that Karnataka has always pursued disruption and transformative governance. “It strives to be bolder and better, with the most advanced digital ecosystem for its citizens. The various e-governance schemes of the government have been path-breaking,” he said.

Besides Bhoomi Project for land record management and the ‘Karnataka Valuation & e-Registration’ programme to simplify the process of registration of documents, the state government’s ‘Karnataka One’ project that integrates multiple government services into an app has brought laurels across the country.

As part of the National Entrepreneurship Summit, Yi also organised a startup competition Ystart by collecting ideas across the country. Ystart identified five ideas and the one from Kumaraguru College of Technology Coimbatore won the first price.