“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”Gazing at this, the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology & Biotechnology; Directorate of Agri Business Development,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore jointly organized a two day event on “Bio-Entrepreneurship Ecosystem at TNAU” during November 7 & 8, 2022. The technical expertise, research infrastructure, and high-end equipment and incubation facilities to all the stakeholders of bio entrepreneurial ecosystem was showcased on these days. The 2nd day event chiefly focused on the young entrepreneurs and student innovators in helping them on bio business tocomprehend and act as per the incubation needs of startups and industries. Around 75 students, industrialists and faculties participated in this event.
The day event’s Dr. E. Somasundaram, Director, DABD, TNAU in his presidential address highlighted the maneuver of business incubators undertaking agribusiness incubation, technology commercialization, market and financial linkages, capacity building programs and other business outreach activities. Dr. N. Senthil, Director, CPMB&B, stated the drive of this event is to generate aprospect for the young entrepreneurs and students to connect with TNAU for their business ventures.
The scheme of the meet was accomplished by expertise address. Mr. S. Dinesh Kumar, Associate Vice President, Startup TN, Chennai, spoke on “Nuances of Startups”. He highlighted his talk that startups should have entrepreneur mindset which means a set of skills that enable people to identify and make the most of opportunities, overcome and learn from setbacks, and succeed in a variety of settings. Mr. Muruganantham Senthilrajan, President & Patent Attorney, Metayage IP Strategy Consulting LLP, Coimbatore, explainedthe importance of IPR startups.
Mr. S. Vasanthan, CEO, EDII – TN – PeriyakulamHorti Business Incubation Forum, HC&RI, Periyakulamhighlighted that alternate career path to life science graduates is “Entrepreneurship”. Dr. Sambashiva, D., Treasurer and Executive Council Member, FABA, Hyderabad, featured on Federation of Asian Biotech Association which is a non-profit,
non-government registered organizationto shore up young and budding entrepreneurs.
Latterly, there was a panel discussion that was moderated by Dr. S.D. Sivakumar, Technical and Personal Officer O/o Vice-Chancellor TNAU & Former Director (DABD), TNAU.
The panelist were Dr. M. Raveendran, Director of Research, TNAU Dr. E. Somasundaram, Director, DABD, TNAU Dr. S. SenthilVinayagam, CEO, α-IDEA, NAARM, Hyderabad Mr. Sriram Sankaran, Board member, Native Angels Network Association and
Mr. S. Dinesh Kumar, Associate Vice President, Startup TN, Chennai. It was enumerated by the panel that TNAU will endow with opportunities for establishment of venture companies, established Agri/Biotech companies willing to take up joint venture with Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology (CoEB). So entrepreneur’s can register and be an element of TNAU to avail the floor / lab space for incubatees/ joint venture initiatives. At CoEB a space for incubation is also being created where the entrepreneur’s can register and get support from the university.
Earlier, Dr. E. Kokiladevi, Professor & Head, Department of Plant Biotechnology welcomed the gathering. Finally, Dr. L. Arul, Professor (Plant Biotechnology) proposed a vote of thanks.