Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) on Thursday to strengthen the collaborative startup ecosystem on health care technology and allied fields in the country.

An SMU release said the MoU had been signed in Gangtok for the purpose of collaboration between the STPI’s Centre of Entrepreneurship and Start-up Innovation Zones in the Sikkim capital and the SMU as part of the Union government’s “Digital North East 2022” initiative.

“SMU will synergistically collaborate as an academic partner in IT application in healthcare. Given each other’s strengths in research and facilities, this MoU will promote entrepreneurship and technology development in healthcare which will mutually benefit the start-up community of the state and the region,” said the release.

As an academic partner, SMU will also extend mentorship, guidance and knowledge support to STPI in conducting joint training and workshops. “The university will advise STPI in mentoring and upscaling of the start-ups of the state and the region,” said the release.

While SMU is one of the leading institutions of the region in high quality academics and inspired learning in basic and applied research, STPI is an autonomous society set up by the Union ministry of electronics and Information Technology in 1991 with the objective of encouraging, promoting and boosting the software exports from India.