JAMMU: Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy & Space and Vice President of CSIR, will inaugurate the "National Startup Festival" on Saturday, the 22nd February at the Government College for Women, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, which is being organized by CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu.

Giving detail of the National Startup Festival, Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director CSIR-IIIM, Jammu, in a press meet held here, informed that the two-day National Startup Festival will be inaugurated by chief guest Dr Jitendra Singh, whileas Satish Sharma, J&K UT Cabinet Minister, would be the guest of honour.

Further, Dr Ahmed said that a total of 50 startups coming from all over India will showcase their innovations and technologies, including Agri-based, Healthcare, Nutraceutical, Tech-based, Service-based, and Consumer products.

"A key focus of this event is to empower local youth, students, women, and farmers from the Jammu region, including districts such as Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua and Samba," he added.

During the inaugural event, it was informed that very important MoUs will be signed by IIIM for collaborative research with industry& CCRUM. A Grant Letter Agreement (GLA) will also be signed with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Deptt of Biotechnology. Besides, new startups will also be enrolled with BIRAC incubator of Industrial Biotech Park, Ghatti, Kathua.

The organizers have issued invitations to all stakeholders, academicians, scientists, policy makers, industry representatives, students from schools, colleges and universities, and members of civil society.

Among the confirmed dignitaries participating in the event are Prof Vinod K. Singh, Chairperson, Recruitment & Assessment Board (RAB), CSIR and Institute Chair Professor of Chemistry at IIT Kanpur; Dr N Zaheer Ahmed, Director General, CCRUM; Dr Prabodh Kumar Trivedi, Director, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow; Dr Ajit Kumar Shasany, Director CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow, and Dr Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, DBT-BIRAC.

The event is being organized with the patronage of CSIR, under overall supervision of Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, Jammu, assisted by his team of HoDs and Scientists.