By Office of Public Affairs
July 19th, 2022 — Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the National Innovation Foundation Incubation and Entrepreneurship Council (NIFientreC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate in capacity building, joint projects, and fostering entrepreneurial ventures in a virtual ceremony.
National Innovation Foundation (NIF) is India’s national initiative to strengthen grassroots technological innovations and outstanding traditional knowledge — with a mission to assist India in becoming a creative and knowledge-based society by expanding policy and institutional space for grassroots technological innovators.
NIFientreC is the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) was established in 2015 with financial support from the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, for the incubation and commercialization of technological ideas and innovations of innovators and students across the country.
AIT’s Entrepreneurship Center (AIT-EC) is a center for innovation, creation, and incubation to nurture and drive the entrepreneurial capabilities of AIT — in collaboration with the industry to support the socio-economic development of the region. The center aims to equip students and faculty with the spirit of innovation and start-ups.
This collaboration emerged from a shared vision of innovation between AIT-EC and NIFientreC. The two parties demonstrated a strong synergy in developing programs, events, and other activities that are mutually beneficial for our community and the environment and society.
AIT President Dr. Eden Woon remarked that AIT is honored to participate in this meaningful forward-looking collaboration, adding that “the MoU will harness the partnership between AIT and NIFientreC and strengthen the collaboration between two parties.”
Dr. Vipin Kumar, Director and Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) at NIF – India, highlighted this is a long-awaited event. NIF has been waiting (the delay in this matter is due to Coronavirus Disease 2019) to collaborate with AIT since the focus on science and technology of AIT and NIF will complement each other to benefit the community, environment, and society.
Meanwhile, the Dean of the School of Engineering and Technology, who is also EC Director, Prof. Dieter Trau, highlighted, “the signing of the MoU enhances our collaboration and opens further opportunities to continue working together. We plan to intensify our work and create more output. I also hope we can begin to have in-person interactions soon with the exchange of visits”.
In addition, AIT and NIFientreC also discussed the mutual interest in future exchange and internship opportunities for AIT students and NIF staff members.
Participants in the virtual MoU ceremony from AIT were AIT President Dr. Eden Woon; Vice President for Knowledge Transfer Dr. Naveed Anwar; Dean of School of Engineering and Technology (SET) and Director of AIT Entrepreneurship Center (EC) Prof. Dieter Trau; Director, Office of International Affairs (OIA) Mr. Shawn P. Kelly; and Deputy Director, Office of Public Affairs (OPA) Mr. Sanjeet Amatya.
Delegates from NIF included NIF Director Dr. Vipin Kumar; Chairperson of NIFientreC, Dr. Gulshan Rai, CEO of NIFientreC Mr. Veeresh Singh; and Executive Director, NIFientreC & Scientist, Er. Rakesh Maheshwari.
More information on EC: http://ec.ait.ac.th/
