Centre for Innovation to come up at Bantala

Kolkata: A Centre for Innovation by the state IT department is coming up at Bantala known as Sector VI in the administrative parlance.

The building will be completed by this year-end. Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) will construct a road connecting Sector V in Salt Lake with Bantala. Senior IT officials visited the site and inspected the construction.

Brainstorming session with experts from IIT, IIM, University of Kolkata, WBUT, Assocham, PwC, Sumantrana, Intueri, Praxis and Start-Ups and others have already taken place.

The goal of the Centre of Innovation would be to

produce patents, IPRs and upscale knowledge in emerging areas like blockchain, fintech, robotics etc.

The aim would be to network with industry and academic institutions through video workshops and interactions, webinars, web-linked apps and the like as well as actual workshops.

The target would be to invite successful patent holders and mentors to handhold aspiring young innovators and help them with industry problem and mentors. New Town and Sector V in Salt Lake have come up as a major IT hub in Bengal. New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has chalked out well-knit plans to beautify Sector V. The roadside food stalls have been renovated and beautified and steps have been taken to ensure that quality food is served to hundreds of people who come to the place for work every day. A comprehensive traffic management plan has been prepared as well and a multi-storeyed car park is coming up. The road directions have been given in a manner to encourage walking to the offices. It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has over and again requested those working in IT and ITes outside Bengal to come back home and start work here. Infosys has purchased land in New Town to set up their establishment.