XLRI and Jharkhand Govt Partner to Launch Startup Incubation Centre | The Avenue Mail

Jamshedpur: XLRI – Xavier School of Management has partnered with the Jharkhand Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (JIIDCO) to establish a startup incubation centre and boost the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The two entities signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to launch the incubation initiative and conduct a six-month scoping study on circular economy and non-timber forest products (NTFP)-based enterprises.

Chief Guest Aboobacker Siddique (IAS), Secretary of the Department of Forest, Environment & Climate Change and Agriculture, emphasized Jharkhand’s vast potential in forest resources and agriculture. He noted that the upcoming study will unlock new avenues for sustainable livelihood creation, waste-to-wealth initiatives, and eco-friendly entrepreneurship.

Industries Department Secretary Arava Rajkamal (IAS), who chaired the ceremony, stated that the collaboration with XLRI will provide a professionally managed platform to nurture startups and transform innovative ideas into scalable enterprises for local youth.

As the knowledge partner, XLRI will provide mentorship, incubation support, and investor connectivity to JIIDCO. Faculty members Prof. Sanjay Patro, Prof. Tata L. Raghu Ram, Prof. Kalyan Bhaskar, Prof. Saurav Snehvrat, and Prof. Vinayak Ram Tripathi reaffirmed XLRI’s commitment to the state’s vision. Following the scoping study, XLRI will help identify and incubate 100 circular economy and NTFP-based enterprises across Jharkhand.

JIIDCO Managing Director Varun Ranjan (IAS) highlighted the deep-rooted association between the government and the institute through the Jharkhand Industrial Policy Lab (JIPL), where XLRI students have already contributed to 15 key policy-related projects under the guidance of Prof. Kalyan Bhaskar.