Kanpur, July 22 (KNN) The Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), the technology business incubator at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, in association with MoHUA (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs) hosted a bootcamp to empower waste-to-value startups in association at the IIT Kanpur Outreach Centre in Noida. 

The event was held under the Startup Gateway for Garbage-Free Cities initiative and brought together stakeholders from the startup ecosystem, government officials, investors, and industry leaders.

Dr. Nikhil Agarwal, CEO of SIIC & AIIDE-CoE, IIT Kanpur, gave welcome remarks and highlighted the significant contributions of waste-to-value startups in addressing critical problem statements faced by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the waste management sector. 

Dr. Agarwal commended the startups’ deep tech solutions that are driving remarkable advancements in waste management.

Professor Ankush Sharma, Professor-in-Charge, SIIC, IIT Kanpur, said, “Startups, with their advanced technologies, play a crucial role in managing waste efficiently, leading to a cleaner and healthier world. SIIC IIT Kanpur and MoHUA working together show how Cleantech and Greentech play an essential role in making cities garbage-free and ensuring good health for all. India is strongly committed to protecting the environment and creating a greener future, and SIIC is actively participating in these efforts.” 

He further emphasized that SIIC’s involvement is vital in making India more sustainable and prosperous.

Binay Kumar Jha, Director of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, acknowledged the significance of the twenty startups in addressing challenges faced by marginalized communities. 

He announced the commitment of MoHUA and SIIC to support the next cohort of 45 startups, enabling them to leverage technology and social innovation for improving efficiency, creating social impact, and bringing transparency to India’s waste management ecosystem.

Vandana Rao IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), expressed MCD’s willingness to collaborate with startups that effectively address the key challenges in the waste value segment and create impactful solutions from the grassroots level.

Satya Prakash Singh, Chief General Manager, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), New Delhi, highlighted SIDBI’s support for SIIC incubated startups in their technology development endeavors. 

He emphasized the vast potential of Cleantech and Greentech sectors, where SIDBI can provide financial aid to startups focused on sustainability, empowering them to make a meaningful and substantial impact.  (KNN Bureau)