SRINAGAR: CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, a premier R&D organisation of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), under Union Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt of India, today started the leather training course besides various others soft initiatives under Atal Incubator Centre (AIC-IIIM).

Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, Jammu who is ex-officio Chairman of AIC-IIIM Bio-innovation Foundation, inaugurated the leather training centre at CSIR-IIIM Srinagar Branch.

While speaking on the occasion, Director of CSIR-IIIM informed that the leather training programme is a part of Skill Development initiative in the Manufacture and Design of Leather Goods and Garments which would be pivotal to support the local economy and generation of livelihoods for many others.

He also highlighted the importance of such events to promote the startup and entrepreneur ecosystem in the region. He further said that the mandate of Atal Incubation Centre has been envisaged in the areas like leather training, medicinal mushroom cultivation, food technology, aroma and natural products sector, keeping in view the richness of natural resources and expertise available here, so as to provide the idea incubation support to the innovators at their doorstep.

The event organised coincided with the National Teacher Day thus Dr. Zabeer extolled the contribution of teachers in building the future of our nation.

Earlier, AIC-IIIM also organized Hackathon 3.0 competition under the aegis of AIC-IIIM Bio-innovation Foundation. Under the activity, participants from different institutes of Kashmir valley participated with great zeal and enthusiasm.

The Hackathon 3.0 competition offered a platform to the startups to share their business ideas which have potential to be converted into promising products / technologies. The official logo and brochure of AIC-IIIM were also released during the ceremony.

In a press handout issued here, it was told that in order to promote the startup ecosystem in the region, AIC - IIIM in this endeavour has formulated a series of events and skill development programmes which would be conducted in near future.

As prelude to today's event, during last month, Entrepreneurial Road Shows were conducted in various Colleges / Universities of Kashmir including Cluster University Srinagar, Central University of Kashmir, Islamic University of Science and Technology and NIT Srinagar.

Er. Abdul Rahim, Head CSIR-IIIM (Br.) Srinagar and Vice Chairman, AIC-IIIM Bio-innovation Foundation emphasized on the role of the institute in mentoring the local entrepreneurs and connecting them with various funding opportunities offered by the Govt. of India.

Dr Saurabh Saran, Principal Investigator, AIC-IIIM, in his welcome address, informed that Hackathon 3.0 pitching session comprised of top 7 groups wherein 15 shortlisted participants pitched their innovative business ideas related to medicinal plants, aroma products, medicinal mushroom, eco-tourism etc. Based on the evaluation by jury, top five business ideas were recognized and awarded as winners of Hackathon.

On the occasion, an MoU for incubation support was also signed with 1Veda Biotech Private Limited, a startup involved in the manufacture of Ayurvedic medicines. This marked the first startup to be incubated under AIC-IIIM Bio-innovation Foundation.

Prominent among others present Dr. Muzamil Ahmed (Deputy Head), Dr. Fayaz A Malik, Dr. Zahoor Ahmad Parry, Dr Parvez Qazi Hassan, Dr. Syed Riyaz -Ul Hassan (Senior Principal Scientist).

Syed Abdul Basit Andrabi, Coordinator AIC-IIIM, conducted the proceedings whereas Er. Ankush Varma, Coordinator IIIM-TBI, presented the formal vote of thanks.