New Delhi, July 4 (KNN) MSMEs are finding it increasingly difficult to compete in a globalised world due to lack of technology, talent, resources, financing and capabilities needed for innovation, while being primary engines of inclusive growth and creators of new employment, adviser to the Prime Minister Sam Pitroda said. 


The United Nations has recognised efforts of India's National Innovation Council for promoting innovations in different spheres of life. 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, along with the authors had presented and unveiled the findings of the Global Innovation Index 2013 Report at an event in Geneva on July 1. 

This initiative was launched in 2011 by NInC to create a model of local innovation ecosystems at Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) clusters, with a vision to transform India's industry clusters for inclusive growth and global competition. 

This year's report emphasises local dynamics of innovation, which have remained under-measured globally. 

According to a Planning Commission statement, the UN's Global Innovation Index 2013 Report has dedicated one chapter on the National Innovation Council (NInC) model for promoting innovation clusters in the country. 

"One chapter in report is dedicated to the Innovation Clusters initiative of NInC, chaired by Sam Pitroda, Adviser to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," it said. 

It also shows the emergence of local innovation ecosystems as key and signals a needed shift from the tendency to duplicate previously successful models without a focus on localised context. 

"To overcome these challenges, NInC spearheaded a unique collaborative approach by establishing a Cluster Innovation Center (CIC) anchored in the local industry association, to facilitate the creation of a local innovation ecosystem," he added. 


As part of the initiative, NInC is conducting a pilot project of this approach in 7 MSME clusters in the country including auto components cluster - Faridabad, Haryana and ayurveda cluster - Thrissur, Kerala. 

NInC has been able to establish partnerships among 39 different institutions and collectively, the local ecosystems have demonstrated 10 new products, 12 process improvements and 2 new entrepreneur facilitation centers.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is one of the primary partners in this effort and has provided extensive support to the MSME clusters through its nation-wide network of labs.

“CSIR under its CSIR-800 program is willing to open doors to all the technologies they have developed till now for the benefit of MSME clusters. We are keen to provide technology solutions to MSMEs for their growth” said Director-General, CSIR, Samir Brahmachari while speaking about this initiative. 

NInC is now seeking more partners from both within public and private institutions to replicate this model in more MSME clusters and to scale it across the country. (KNN)