BioNEST at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati organised their second edition of Kickstart 2.0 Industry conclave on February 14 and 15, 2023. The purpose of the event was to create an opportunity for entrepreneurs in North East India to explore ways to make their products available to the market, technology transfer, and commercialization. 80 start-ups from across India, especially from North East India, were invited to showcase their products to potential investors, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders. The event was supported by BIRAC.
At the event, Professor Parameswar K Iyer, the Acting Director of IIT Guwahati, discussed the institute’s incubator network and how its advanced technology can be used for product development, creating a startup ecosystem in northeast India. The two-day event saw the highest-performing and most committed models being rewarded.
At his opening speech, Dr. Siddharth Singh, IAS, IHIDMS, Commissioner and Secretary of the Government of Assam, discussed the importance of having technological advances and innovations to make healthcare more accessible, create an organized structure for hospitals’ Out Patient Departments (OPDs), and develop products that can enhance the efficiency of Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Sherry Lalthnagzo, IES, Economic Advisor, NEC Shillong, highlighted the great potential that the North East has in terms of its biodiversity and human resources, and emphasized the necessity of creating a robust startup community. Ananthadi and Padmasita, the models who presented their ideas online and earned the most number of responses, were also mentioned.
