EKJUT Technology Business Incubator

Before you apply

• Check that your idea fits one of the thematic areas on the incubation page. The list is not closed, so an idea outside it can still apply.
• If you are from Jharkhand, or your startup is women-promoted or tribal-community-promoted, say so in the form. The page gives preference to these groups.
• If your business is within 25 km of a Central Coalfields establishment, say so too. This is also a stated preference.

How to apply

• Use the online application form linked from the EKJUT incubation page on the Jharkhand University of Technology website.
• Applications are rolling with no last date. Seats are limited, so early applications have an advantage.

How selection works

• Selected applicants are called to present their business idea to the incubator's selection committee.
• Only companies the committee selects receive incubation.

What to expect after selection

• Incubation runs for a maximum of 18 months from the date you sign the contract with EKJUT.
• Seed funding becomes an option only after you have been incubated.

EKJUT Technology Business Incubator (TBI) is a technology business incubator set up by Jharkhand University of Technology (JUT), Ranchi. It sits on the university's campus at Sirkha Toli, Namkum, in Ranchi. The university's own page says the incubator was inaugurated on 5 October 2021.

The incubator is governed by a Board of Governors, which the Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor of the university chairs. Its members come from academia, industry, university officials and startup ecosystem facilitators. The name EKJUT comes from the university's aim to bring the state's startup ecosystem stakeholders together. The page says Central Coalfields Ltd., a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd., supports the incubator under its corporate social responsibility programme.

How incubation works

Applications are open on a rolling basis, with no last date. The page says seats are limited, so applying early helps. Applicants are periodically called to present their business ideas to a selection committee. Only companies the committee selects get incubation. Selected startups can be incubated for a maximum of 18 months from the date they sign the contract with EKJUT.

Who can apply

The page encourages budding entrepreneurs from Jharkhand to apply. It gives preference to startups within 25 km of Central Coalfields establishments in command areas, to startups promoted by women, and to startups promoted by members of tribal communities in Jharkhand. It does not say that startups from outside the state are excluded.

The page lists eight thematic areas: environment, water and sanitation; renewable energy and clean technology; IT, IT-enabled services and the Internet of Things; AI, AR/VR, machine learning and robotics with a focus on the mining industry; industrial consultancy; logistics and transport; inclusive education, health and social services; and food and agro-processing. The list is not closed, and ideas outside it can apply.

Facilities

Each selected startup gets a dedicated office space for a team of up to two people, with office furniture, LAN and Wi-Fi, DG power backup, drinking water and housekeeping. Startups can also use a meeting room for team meetings and a training hall, both on demand and subject to availability. The page says startups get access to the JUT library and JUT labs.

Support on offer

The specialised services listed are mentoring, a route to seed funding, paid consultancy support and patent support. Seed funding is open to startups only after they have been incubated, in due course.

Contact and location

The incubator is at Jharkhand University of Technology, Science and Technology Campus, Sirkha Toli, Namkum, Ranchi 834010, Jharkhand. The incubation page names an Incubation Manager as the contact, and it links to the online application form from that page.