Incubation centres to boost small and medium industries

In a move to give a boost to small and medium scale entrepreneurs, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Ministry has started a pilot project to open training-cum-incubation centres (TICs) across the country. 

According to the latest data provided by the ministry, the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) has stared 98 such centres, of which 91 are on Public Private Partnership model and seven have been set by NSIC itself.

With 22 TICs under the PPP model and one being set up by the NSIC, UP is at the top on the list of 20 states that have started incubation centres to meet the ministry’s mission of promoting the growth of micro, small and medium scale enterprises in the country. Punjab, with 10 TICs, is on the second position, followed by J&K with 9 TICs.

Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh said in the Rajya Sabha that the NSIC had established three TICs in 2012-13 and 2014-15, while one was being set up by the PSU in 2015-16 (till April) fiscal. However, the NSIC had not initiated setting up of any TIC in the year 2013-14. 

The total number of incubation centres set up under the PPP model in 2012-13 was 58, followed by 18 TICs in 2013-14, 14 in 2014-15 and just one in 2015-16, Singh said.

The NSIC provides an opportunity to first-generation entrepreneurs to  acquire skill for enterprise building and also incubating them to become successful small business owners. 

At these centres, exposure in all areas of business operations are being provided such as business skill development, identification of appropriate technology, hands-on-experience on working projects, project/ product selection, opportunity guidance – including commercial aspects of business.