Raipur, February 10 The Chhattisgarh government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) on Tuesday to establish a Centre of Entrepreneurship (CoE) and an Electronics System Design and Development (ESDD) center in the state, officials said.
The state's Department of Electronics and Information Technology signed the MoU with STPI in the presence of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at his official residence, they said.
Speaking on the occasion, Sai said that Chhattisgarh, which is rich in natural resources, aims to build a distinct identity in knowledge, technology, and innovation.
The state is steadily moving towards becoming a leader in Information Technology, IT-enabled services (ITES), and emerging technology-based industries, supported by modern infrastructure, effective e-governance, and investor-friendly policies, he said.
The chief minister said that the initiative aims to promote entrepreneurship among the youth and provide world-class opportunities in IT and ITES within the state.
The CoE will encourage innovation and start-ups in four key areas — artificial intelligence, forest and medicinal-product-based med-tech, smart city solutions, and smart agriculture, he said.
Sai said that a state-of-the-art ESDD center will support around 30 to 40 hardware start-ups and MSMEs every year by providing facilities for product design, prototyping, skill development, and capacity building.
The initiative will offer incubation, mentorship, funding support, and access to advanced laboratories within the state, helping to curb the migration of skilled youth to bigger cities while boosting local employment and entrepreneurship, he said.
He noted that STPI's experience, with 68 centers and 24 sector-specific centers of entrepreneurship across the country, will significantly strengthen Chhattisgarh's start-up and innovation ecosystem.
The agreement will prove to be a milestone in the state's economic growth, and give Chhattisgarh a new identity on the national map in digital innovation, technological entrepreneurship, and start-ups, the chief minister added.
Principal Secretary to the CM Subodh Kumar Singh, Electronics and IT Department Secretary Ankit Anand, STPI Director Ravi Verma, and other officials were present.
