What are Schemes?

Generation Based Incentive (GBI) was announced by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for Grid Interactive Wind and Solar Power Projects with the main aim to broaden the investor base, facilitate the entry of large Independent Power Producers and to provide level playing field to various classes of investors. The GBI is provided over and above the feed in tariff approved by State utilities

Under the Scheme, MSMEs will be assisted in reducing their manufacturing costs, through proper personnel management, better space utilization, scientific inventory management, improved processed flows, reduced engineering time and so on. LMCS (Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme) also brings improvement in the quality of products and lowers costs, which are essential for competing in national and international markets. The larger enterprises in India have been adopting LMCS to remain competitive, but MSMEs have generally stayed away from such Programmes as they are not fully aware of the benefits. Beside these issues, experienced and effective Lean Manufacturing Counsellors or Consultants are not easily available and are expensive to engage and hence most MSMEs are unable to afford LMCS.

Bio-incubation allows harnessing of the entrepreneurial potential of startups by providing access to infrastructure, mentoring as well as networking platforms that the startups could use during their fledgling days. It helps the young entitites to survive by providing them specialised support services during the critical period of a business venture i.e. the start-up phase. While the Bioincubators are able to support the “Space, Services and Knowledge” requirements of startups, wide gap exists in financial support required by a technology driven start up in the initial phase. BIRAC’s initiative -Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development Fund (“SEED Fund”) primarily aims to address this need through the Incubators. The basic idea of SEED Fund is providing Capital assistance to startups with new and meritorious ideas, innovations and technologies. This would enable some of these start-ups to graduate to a level where they will be able to raise investments from angel/Venture capitalist or they will reach a position to seek loans from commercial banks /financial institutions. Thus the proposed seed support is positioned to act as a bridge between promoters’ investment and Venture/Angel investment. This is not an investment scheme, but, rather a support scheme to enable start-ups and incubator to attain sustainability.

BIRAC aims to promote and foster cutting-edge technologies in the field of medical electronics through this scheme. The project IIPME is a partnership project between the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India, and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, a public sector undertaking of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.

International cooperation scheme promotes the exports of MSMEs through international exhibitions/ trade fairs, conferences/ summits/workshops. The idea is to give MSMEs . a platform so that their products and services can get global recognition and expand their business.MSME delegations visit other countries to participate in international exhibitions, trade fairs, conferences, etc. The objective is to explore various ways and means to improve the market of MSMEs products through joint ventures, technology infusions, etc.At the same time, international conferences, summits, workshops, etc., related to the MSME sector are organized in India by various bodies.International cooperation scheme provides financial assistance by reimbursing airfare, space rent, freight charges, advertisement & publicity charges, and entry/registration fees for participating in international marketing activities.

The objective of the Scheme is to facilitate technology up-gradation in MSEs by providing an upfront capital subsidy of 15 per cent (on institutional finance of upto Rs 1 crore availed by them) for induction of well-established and improved technology in the specified 51 sub-sectors/products approved. In other words the major objective is to upgrade their plant & machinery with state-of-the-art technology, with or without expansion and also for new MSEs which have set up their facilities with appropriate eligible and proven technology duly approved under scheme guidelines.

Brochure Support is a marketing tool used by National Tourism Offices (NTOs) to promote their tourism products amongst the travel trade and the potential consumer. The India Tourism Offices overseas undertake this activity on regular basis. This support to tour operators etc. is given to ensure that India’s tourism products and packages find place in this brochure and other promotional material produced in the international markets. The startups in the Tourism Industry can use this scheme for marketing their products abroad.

The Procurement and Marketing support Scheme would promote and educate MSMEs by organising trade fairs/awareness programs about GeM portal, Online services and other services. The scheme also encourage Micro and Small Entreprises to develop domestic markets and find new ways of  promotion of new market access initiatives. It will also cover activites required to facilitate market linkages for effective implementation of Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order of 2012.

Business incubation has been globally recognized as an important tool for economic development and job creation. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Division of Department of Science and Technology (DST) has been supporting the technology based stratups through its flagship programme of “Technology Business Incubator”. Technology Business Incubators have been supported primarily in and around academic and technical institutions to tap potential technology ideas and innovations for venture creation by effectively utilizing expertise and existing infrastructure already available with the host institution. Technology based new enterprises are high risk and high growth ventures, and they require an enabling environment like NIDHI-Centre of Excellence (NIDHI-CoE) to enhance the prospects of their success.

NSTEDB  aims to nurture Startups through incubation. TBIs are ecosystem institutions that are one stop solution for the start-up’s in their early vulnerable years. TBI’s support is invaluable in supporting and nurturing a start-up by providing access to critical resources during their most vulnerable stage in their lifecycle. TBI’s assume the role of an implementing agency for the diverse govt. schemes and programs. Apart from that, they also have the freedom of an autonomous entity to effective support startups with commercialisation and marketing assistance. 

In order to nurture a culture of applied research and need-oriented (societal or industry) innovation among researchers and to catch them young, provide professional mentoring and support needed, it is imperative that there be a focus on fostering local ecosystems. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) has developed a focused strategic action plan to foster the culture of innovation and techno-entrepreneurship in Indian Universities, leveraging the University Innovation Cluster (UIC) and Cluster Innovation Centre (CIC) model. Five University clusters as mentioned below have been identified to establish Cluster Innovation Centres: 1. Anna University, Chennai 2. Panjab University, Chandigarh 3. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 4. University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 5. University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad Cluster Innovation Centre in Biotechnology (CIC-B), hosted in these University, are acting as the nerve centre to manage the University Innovation Cluster activities. Along with facilitating the creation of networks, partnerships between stakeholders to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, the CIC-B is providing pre-incubation support to innovative ideas, innovators for effective translation into products thereof.

The NewGen Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (NewGen IEDC) is being promoted in educational institutions to develop institutional mechanism to create entrepreneurial culture in S&T academic institutions and to foster techno-entrepreneurship for generation of wealth and employment by S&T persons. The NewGen IEDCs are established in academic institutions (science colleges, engineering colleges, universities, management institutes) having requisite expertise and infrastructure.  

The Marketing Assistance Scheme was launched with the main aim of improving the marketing capabilities and competitiveness of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The scheme was launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

The Small Exporter's Policy is basically the Standard Policy, incorporating certain improvements in terms of cover, in order to encourage small exporters to obtain and operate freely without the different type of risks like Political and Commercial. It is issued to exporters whose anticipated export turnover for the period of one year does not exceed INR 1 crores. 

Bio-incubation allows harnessing of the entrepreneurial potential of start ups by providing access to infrastructure as well as mentoring and networking platforms that the start ups could use during their fledgling days. The Startup India Action Plan has necessitate creation of new bio-incubation space that are world class and that can provide cutting edge access to the best bio- incubation environs for propelling innovative ideas towards productization. BIRAC’s focus has been creation of a biotechnology startup environment in the country. It has taken a couple of strategic implementation programmes that span from provide funding to early stage ideas through grants, creation of bioincubators at strategic locations (through BioNEST) and extend mentorship and networking opportunities to startups Through BioNEST, BIRAC has supported 20 bioincubators that are at various stages of operationalization with the cumulative area of 200000 sq.ft. Out of this approximately 100,000 sft space is currently active for incubation. The 20 bioincubators are placed either within academic/research clusters or stand-alone incubators either privately funded or funded by State Governments. The new growth in biotech startups would require either scaling of existing bio-incubation space in current biotech hubs or creation of new bio- incubation space at nascent hubs that have the potential to become bigger biotech hubs in the next decade. Further, the creation of new bio- incubation space should be cognizant about the differential needs of varied nature of biotech startups- especially those that are medtech (including medical electronics hardware), biopharma, agri-biotech and biomaterials.

The startups require intensive networking and information about other business ventures. This scheme provides information on business, technology and finance to MSMEs, and also exhibit core competencies of Indian SMEs. This is done through MSME Global mart - www.msmemart.com. These information is available through annual membership of the portal.A free membership plan is also provided with limited access and services and a Gold membership plan for SC/STs is also provided with full access and services, which is free of charge.

KITVEN Fund-3 (Biotech) is a SEBI registered Venture Capital Fund having target corpus of Rs. 35.55 crore. The Fund proposes to undertake investments in companies catering to Biotechnology and such other allied sectors within the State of Karnataka. Currently, the Fund has received commitment from State and Central Government firms/ institutions like Karnataka Biotechnology & Information Technology Services (KBITS), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and KSIIDC BIRAC.

Biotech start up journey, especially for first time entrepreneurs, is full of hurdles, both technological as well as business related such as business plan and market entry strategies, navigating regulatory hurdles, connecting and pitching to VCs and networking with future stakeholders. There is a greater realisation within the biotech community regarding the importance of focused mentorship which can help accelerate nascent biotech start up. BIRAC is therefore envisaging designing and implementing an equity based fund for supporting entrepreneurs in the valley of death.

Entrepreneurship Skill Development Programmes are organized regularly to train and make the youth aware of the various requirements and know-how for setting up MSEs. The idea is to bridge the skill divide in the country. These EDPs are generally conducted in ITIs, Polytechnics, and other technical institutions. The idea is to motivate the youth towards becoming job creators rather than job seekers.20% of the ESDPs are conducted exclusively for SC/ST/women and P.H. members of the society. It is a free-of-cost program

The India tourism Offices overseas extend advertising support to wholesalers, retailers and other organizations also (like Museums, Clubs, special interest groups, etc.) who wish to organize special India promotions. This is to promote the entreprenuers products or services to the potential international customers.