Agri-Business Incubators (ABIs)
Background: The main objective of Agri-Business Incubators (ABIs) is to encourage, nurture and support technologists, scientists and innovative agribusiness ideas to turn their innovations into sound commercial ventures. Such technology incubation centres help in initiating technology-led and knowledge-driven enterprises. It is now well-proven that such mechanisms help not only in the growth of technology-based new enterprises but also in improving their survival rate substantially. Since 2009, an initiation was made in this direction across the NARS through the world Bank-aided National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP). The initial success and experience gained needs to be further strengthened and expanded into a nation-wide network of agri-business incubators. The realization has led to the approval and sanction of Incubation Fund (Component II) under the XII Plan Scheme of IP&TM Unit, ICAR.
Objectives: The main objectives of Programme are:
- To establish/ transform agri-business incubator centres as leaders in NARS for providing technology, Skill up-gradation and incubation leading to promotion of viable enterprises and generation of employment opportunities to entrepreneurs
- To undertake last mile scale-up from pilot level of value chain in collaboration with stakeholders
- To impart training ad capacity building to prospective entrepreneurs in agri-business ecosystem.
A) INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES
- 150 – 163 sq ft. office space (10 in numbers) and 100 sq. ft. (3 in numbers) on individual basis.
- One-stop window for organizing workshops, conferences, seminars etc. with state-of-art infrastructure including variety of conference halls, seminar halls, auditorium etc equipped with video-conferencing facilities
- Library and Documentation Centre with access to more than 2000 Journals from EBSCO, CSIRO, Springer, Open J-Gate, CERA
- Work Station with Wi-Fi internet connections and other IT Infrastructural support
- Training hostels for 24 accommodation facilities
- Farmer Hostel for 18 accommodation facilities
B) BASKET OF TECHNOLOGIES
- Accelerated Retting Of Jute
- Eco-Sustainable Jute Spinning Conditioning Agent
- Particle Board From Agro-Residue
- Handmade Paper From Jute Residues
- Bleaching At Ambient Temperature
- Dyeing At Ambient Temperature
- Natural Dyeing Of Jute
- Production Of Jute Based Decorative And Upholstery Fabrics On Handloom At Rural Level
- Power Ribboner For Quality Fibre Production Of Jute
- Mechanical Extraction Of Fibre From Banana Pseudo-Stem
- Briquetting Of Jute Agro-Waste
- Jute Based Geo-Textiles
- Jute-Based Warm Clothing
- Jute-Mat Stick Based Ornamental Fabric
- Testing Instruments
- Electronic Fibre Bundle Strength Tester For Ramie
- Electronic Fibre Bundle Strength Tester For Sunhemp
- Electronic Fibre Bundle Strength Tester For Multiple Fibres
- Electronic Fibre Fineness Meter For Jute
- Electronic Fibre Fineness Meter For Ramie
- Electronic Fibre Fineness Meter For Multiple Fibre
- Low Cost Handy Type Digital Moisture Measurement Meter
- Laboratory Type Digital Moisture Measurement Meter
- Online Moisture Measurement Meter
- Digital Thermal Insulation Value Tester
- Digital Colour Lustre Meter For Jute
- Digital Colour Lustre Meter For Multiple Fibres
- Handy Type Colour Meter
C) OPERATIONAL PROMOTIONAL COMMERCIAL AND LEGAL CONSULTENCY
- Promotion through various available platforms (Website, exhibitions etc.)
- Guidance in business plan formulation.
- Guidance in conducting market surveys and feasibility analysis.
- Product life cycle analysis
- Product promotion and branding
- Interaction with successful entrepreneurs.
- Linkage for financial support
- Supply chain establishment
- Building intellectual property portfolio
- Assessment of technology licensing and valuation of technologies
- Protocols for company registration and related issues
D) SCIENTIFIC MENTORING
- 24x7 technical support and advice from scientific experts of the domain.
- Fabrication assessment according to the need-based project requirement
- Design and developmental support for specific product development
- Up-scaling existing products according to the market need
E) CAPACITY BUILDING
- Training and skill development.
- Conducting management development and entrepreneurship development programme
- Guidance for establishment of independent production unit
F) NETWORK WITH OTHER INSTITUTES & UNIVERSITIES
- Build and accelerate agri-business cluster across the eco-system
- To scout and catalyse the commercial utilization of viable technologies developed at various research institutions under ICAR Institutes and Universities
- To provide access to knowledge and networking support services in innovation and entrepreneurship in other agriculture research field
List of mentors for startup business
- Anjel Investors, India
- Venture Capitalist, India
- Dr. S. K. Mitra, Former Assistant Controller of Patent & Designs, Govt. of India
- Adv. Anjan Sen, Director, Anjan Sen & Associates
- Mr. Arindam Dutta, Member, Core Export Group, Innovation Park, Science & Technology Park
- Dr. R. Kalpana Sastry, PS, NAARM
