India & Japan collaborated to facilitate a visit by a delegation from Kenya and Tanzania to the Telangana State Innovation Cell (TSIC) and the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) to gain a comprehensive understanding of how public sector nurtures the startup ecosystem in India.
Hyderabad, July 29, 2024: In order to learn more about effective public sector-led initiatives that support startup ecosystems in India, a delegation of six government representatives from Tanzania’s Ministry of Information, Communication, and Technology and Kenya’s National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) traveled to Hyderabad. The team went to two projects supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA): the Campus Development Project of the India Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (IITH) and the Telangana Startup and Innovation Ecosystem Strengthening Project, which is run by the Telangana State Innovation Cell (TSIC).
Throughout the two-day site visit, the delegation engaged with significant players, investigated inventive startup ideas, and discovered the role of government in successfully carrying out these initiatives at the local level. The delegation went to the IITH campus and had talks with the Deans, Prof. B.S. Murty, the Director of IITH, and representatives from the Center of Healthcare Entrepreneurship (CfHE), the Suzuki Innovation Center (SIC), the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SCIENT), the Technology Research Park (TRP), and the Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN).
Also, the delegation visited innovation facilities in Hyderabad, such as T-hub, T-works, and We-hub, that are supported by the Telangana Startup and Innovation Ecosystem Strengthening Project, and learned about how India’s flagship programs led by public organizations support the startup ecosystem. These interactions provided insights into building and sustaining a robust startup environment through public sector initiatives and contributed to triangular cooperation between India and Japan.
Mr. SAITO Mitsunori, Chief Representative of JICA India, said, “This collaboration between Tanzania, Kenya, Japan, and India is a critical turning point in our common goal of supporting businesses and enabling people in Africa, Asia, and India to realize their full potential as entrepreneurs. Startups have a critical role in promoting entrepreneurial innovation and stimulating economic growth. I hope that this tour, which took place in two cutting-edge initiatives funded by JICA in Hyderabad, gave the participants a plethora of ideas to promote leadership and entrepreneurship and to build a supportive ecosystem.
The delegation consisted of Mr. Nickson Temu, Principal ICT Officer at the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology, Government of Tanzania, Mr. Samuel Njehu, Principal Education Officer at KeNIA; and Dr. Tonny Kerage Omwansa, CEO of the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA). JICA Kenya and Tanzania Office is assisting KeNIA and the Ministry of Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Government of Tanzania, in their efforts to develop and improve the regulatory framework and startup and innovation policies.
