Jammu, February 3, 2024Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space and Vice President CSIR, chaired a groundbreaking meeting on “Fostering Connect with Society for Startup Promotion in the Region” at CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu. The meeting, a first of its kind, witnessed the participation of District Development Councils of Kathua and Udhampur, various social and farmer organizations, as well as scientists and technologists of CSIR-IIIM.Addressing the gathering, Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the crucial role of establishing a strong connection between science and society to leverage the benefits of schemes and initiatives from scientific and technological organizations. These initiatives aim to impact citizens’ lives and address common needs through science and technology-driven interventions. Dr. Singh commended CSIR for its flagship initiatives, positively influencing farmer families, empowering young researchers, unemployed technocrats, and women across various sectors.During the open house interaction, DDC members expressed gratitude to CSIR-IIIM Jammu for initiating the connect program. They highlighted the significance of understanding the scientific activities undertaken by the institute, learning about flagship programs like CSIR Aroma Mission, Floriculture Mission, and Startup incubators. These initiatives are expected to have a long-term impact on farmers’ income and the generation of lucrative livelihoods.Col. Mahan Singh, Vice Chairman, DDC Kathua, Lal Chand Chairman, DDC Udhampur, and Raghunandhan Singh, Vice Chairman, DDC Kathua, praised CSIR-IIIM for conducting such a unique program. The meeting provided insights into the specific requirements of aroma and floriculture crops in their respective areas.Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director CSIR IIIM, highlighted the institute’s efforts to contribute to the socio-economic improvement of poor marginal farmers and enhance the agritech startup ecosystem. He stressed the need for greater involvement of public representatives at the divisional and district levels to effectively implement the benefits of each program.Dr. Suphla Gupta, Nodal Scientist CSIR Aroma Mission, and Dr. Saurabh Saran, Principal Investigator of the Technology Business Incubator, provided information about various programs conducted under the Aroma Mission and the entrepreneurial and technological support to startups, respectively.The meeting marked a significant step in bridging the gap between science, society, and startup promotion, fostering collaborative efforts for regional development and prosperity.
Fostering Connect with Society must for Startup Promotion: Dr. Jitendra Singh
