The Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal has recogniseable steps in its various innovation and entrepreneurship activities in 2021, a progress that reflects in its standing in the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2021.
IISER Bhopal is the only one among the seven IISERs to be identified in the ‘Promising’ band under ‘Institute of National Importance and Central Universities and CFTIs (Centrally Funded Technical Institutions) (Technical)’ category.
Subhas Sarkar, minister of state for education, Government of India, announced the results of the Third Edition of ARIIA Rankings on December 29, 2021.
Siva Umapathy, director, IISER Bhopal, said, “The institute has made it to the ARIIA Ranking due to its continuous efforts and focus on startups and commercialisation of technologies and translating those technologies for societal benefits. The institute has a dedicated innovation and incubation centre (IICE) for entrepreneurship, which is a technology business incubator, to promote start-ups and innovation at the institute. The institute's ranking has improved this year as compared to last year and that has happened as faculty members take interest in start-ups, IPR and technology development along with teaching and research.”
The IICE at the IISER Bhopal covers 10,000 sqft, and it’s one of the fastest-growing technology business incubators at higher educational institutions in India.
The institute supports potential start-ups by providing them co-working space with office and research labs, mentoring support, networking through IICE and also helps them with technical, legal and financial matters along with marketing support. IICE is also open for incubation for external entrepreneurs as the overall goal is to promote the culture of entrepreneurship within the campus and in the vicinity.
A total of 1,438 higher education Institutions (HEIs) including all IITs, NITs, and IISc, among others participated in the third edition of ARIIA Rankings as compared to the 674 last year.