K-Tech NAIN Center

About – NAIN

Creation of an ecosystem that promotes innovation in educational institutions is one of the key objectives of the Startup Policy-2015. With this focus, the scheme of ‘New Age Incubation Network’ is initiated by Govt. of Karnataka, ICT Society, Bengaluru under the Department of IT, BT and S&T. This is now operational in all Districts of the state selected under 1,2 and 3 Phases.

In Third phase of New Age Incubation Network (NAIN) programme the Department of IT, BT and S&T Govt. of Karnataka selected our Institution as a NAIN Centre in the Year 2019-20.

In NAIN programme the incubators will be networked and connected to the common portal to facilitate exchange of thoughts, ideas and collaboration across institutions and disciplines.

Under the NAIN, Students are encouraged to identify local problems and address those using concepts of frugal innovation, and to develop appropriate technology based solutions and working prototypes. And also mentors assigned to the students help them to formulate a business model based on the new technology and encourage them to think like entrepreneurs.

Financial assistance for running the NAIN incubators and for student projects initially provided for three years from 2019-20 to 2021-22 and further extended for two more years from 2022-23.

Government provide Operational support from date of selection in the form of grant support. The grant will be provided to the Host Institute for the NAIN facility under the following two heads:

(i) NAIN – Operational Expenses (N-OPX) and

(ii) NAIN – Student Project Seed Fund (N-SPF)

NAIN Operational Expenses Grant of Rs. 10 lakh per annum, for salary of one Full-time employee, funds for organizing events like Ideathons, Hackathons, Entrepreneurship boot camps etc. meeting, Travel and other miscellaneous expenses. Contingent & Administrative overheads.

NAIN Student Project Seed Fund Grant: A seed fund of up to Rs. 3 lakh per project shall be awarded to every selected team. Up to 10 teams shall be funded in each Host Institute (total fund granted to NHI = Rs. 30 lakh per annum). This fund shall be released to student innovators.

In Project Batch-I, totally 10 local problems identified by our students in the field of Agriculture, Solar distillation, CCTV Camera security, and safety driving system total worth of Rs. 13.8 lakh Rupees.

Objectives of K-Tech NAIN Center

• The main objective is to encourage students, research scholars and alumni to share their ideas to solve chosen problems which are local centric and to validate, Refine and Nurture ideas.
• Incubation center shall provide an ecosystem to convert ideas into proofs of concept and upgrade them to a level of commercial value.
• After successful incubation, encourage and lead the teams towards setting up a business enterprise.

Support Provided @ K-TECH NAIN

KLS VDIT, Haliyal thrives to bridge the gap between theoretical and practical learning and the centers like JAGRUTI- a tech Hub, Toyota -Centre of excellence, e-Yantra Lab, Welding Research Center, Thermal Engg. Research lab, along with NAIN scheme prove to be a befitting example of the same.

Technology domain areas at “K-tech NAIN CENTER”

• Cooling of Electronic devices.
• Design and Welding of Aerospace material.
• Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Robotic and Automation systems.
• IOT in Agricultural field.

Mini Project Exhibition: To imbibe in the young minds the idea of innovation, an annual mini project exhibition is organized for the first year students.

Panel Discussions: Students are encouraged to have panel discussion over on -going real time projects with eminent personalities in the relevant field as panelists.

Technical Talks: In order to educate the students regarding the expectations from the industry, technical talks from industry experts is a tradition followed at KLS, VDIT.

Empanelment: KLS VDIT has empanelment with leading organizations which gives an insight to the students with regards to be industry -ready.

Ideathon: Organized at college, “ Ideathon” invites problem statement and solution for the same in marketable format from the students and alumni .The best ideas are then chosen for NAIN.

 YEP: To inform the students from Government schools and Pre -University College regarding how their ideas can be turned into prototypes and inform them regarding the support provided by NAIN, “Young Entrepreneurs Program” is organized.

BOOT CAMP: To give an insight to participants as to how ideas =formulation can be made and to have one-on-one discussion with mentors and entrepreneurs, “BOOT CAMP “is organized.

Through these initiatives top 20 ideas/proposals will be selected for the new age incubation network to submit the final proposals.

Path to Turn Idea to Product

• Under NAIN , the workshops like YEP and Boot camps are organized to identify potential ideas.
• The selected ideas are turned into project proposals by the guidance of mentors ( academicians/ local entrepreneurs ) who guide the students with regards to financial aspects. The proposals then undergo a scrutiny by the expert team comprising of academicians, industrialists and local entrepreneurs.
• The selected proposals are then sent to KITS for the funding approval.
• NAIN centre at college provides facilities like infrastructure, space, internet, mentor support, guidance for intellectual property rights (patent filing) and start-up formation I.e., company formation.

Activities

Developing an entrepreneurship mind-set amongst students through specially crafted Young   Entrepreneur Program, for students to understand the basics of entrepreneurship from experienced entrepreneurs and start-ups.

• Identify regional and local problems by conduction of Hackthon or inviting ideas and creating statement of problems.
• Sharing of statement of problems among students, Research scholars, and Alumni.
• Getting ideas, solutions from students, Research scholars, and Alumni through work shop,

     Seminar and Webinars.

• Formation of team refining of ideas and solutions and convert them to project proposal along with costing and other details.
• Placing proposal before the screening committee for sanctioning of fund.
• Reviewing of project process quarterly by screening committee.
• Institution-Level Innovation Council (IIC), This committee meet once in a quarter and initiate all steps for promoting innovation in education for developing an ecosystem where students are given the necessary resources and support to convert their ideas into proof of concept and create IPs.