NIRDPR to host 3rd edition of Rural Innovators Startup Conclave

Hyderabad: National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) is all set to host the 3rd edition of Rural Innovators Startup Conclave (RISC) on September 27-28 at the Institute campus in Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The two-day unique conclave will serve as a platform to showcase a wide array of budding entrepreneurs, rural innovators and aspirant start-ups to demonstrate their design ideas, innovations, technologies, pitch, and get an opportunity to receive learning and mentoring support.

Being introduced in the memory of late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, RISC-2019 seeks to provide a platform to innovators and entrepreneurs to showcase their innovations and connect them with potential funding and network support. The themes of the conclave are Agriculture & Allied Activities, Green Energy Solution, Waste to Wealth, Health & Elderly Care, Drinking Water & Sanitation, Sustainable Housing, and Sustainable Livelihood.

The best innovations and start-ups identified will be awarded cash prizes of Rs 1,00,000 for start-ups and Rs 50,000 for innovators, besides a fellowship for one-year to participate in tailor-made workshops on themes such as design, packaging, marketing, etc to be organized by NIRDPR.

Dr. W. R. Reddy, IAS, Director General, NIRDPR, speaking about the significance of the conclave said, "Humongous problems which are plaguing the rural areas can only be addressed by constant infusion of innovations and technologies focused on mitigating these issues. The RISC programme aims to provide critical support to innovators from rural areas who know these issues better than anyone else to work towards addressing these challenges."

In this event a platform called 'Rural Innovation and Design (RIDe)' Challenge will also be organized for school (above 8th standard) and college students, with an aim of finding potential solutions to critical everyday problems. These solutions will be represented through poster displays at the conclave. A fellowship of Rs.10,000, Rs.7,500 and Rs.5,000will be awarded to the first, second and third ranking prizes respectively. NIRDPR will play a key role by connecting these innovators with appropriate institutions and investors who have the technological and financial means of catering to the entrepreneurial aspirations of the youth.

The conclave will be attended by representatives from Technical institutions, Government departments supporting incubation, Non-Government agencies and most importantly by the Business Developers, Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors and other players from the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The conclave will be organized by the Centre for Innovations and Appropriate Technologies (CIAT) of NIRDPR, and will witness the participation of young school and college students, rural innovators, budding start-ups, funding agencies, giving them the opportunity to leverage each other's' strengths for bringing into the fray, sustainable solutions for development. It will also seek to provide the innovative technologies / innovators that are struggling to scale up, by instilling the confidence in them and strengthening the start-up ecosystem.

Last year's edition of RISC saw the Vice President of India launching the 'Improved Hydraulic compressed Mud Block Making Machine' that increases productivity of mud-block making by 4-5 times. Some of the innovations seen during the conclave in 2018 included eco-friendly wheelchair, a 'smart' toilet powered by 'Internet of Things, specialized walking sticks for Parkinsons patients. In addition, start-ups from different corners of the country received recognition and awards.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship campaign of Startup India that seeks to encourage young entrepreneurs, particularly in Tier II and Tier III cities, is a guiding light creating ripples across the industry to come up with initiatives seeking to strengthen the startup culture. Innovation and entrepreneurship today play a decisive role in economic growth and NIRDPR taking forward this vision, created RISC as a forward-thinking platform for budding ideas/solutions, rural innovators and startups to RISE.

Since its inception in 2017, NIRDPR through RISC has already empowered several startups and innovators by helping them connect with institutions that have the technological and financial bandwidth to extend support to novel innovations. NIRDPR's Rural Technology Park continues to encourage rural entrepreneurs to scale-up by providing training and guidance on various aspects of entrepreneurship. It is a crucial platform that is cognizant of the role rural entrepreneurship plays in enabling individuals and communities to be self-empowered and in the sustenance of rural India through promoting sustainable livelihoods.

NIRDPR invites nominations from the innovators, start-ups and students online.