JSPMs Rajarshi Shahu College of Engineering, Pune

Start with the foundation

• Write to rscoe.iif@jspmrscoe.edu.in with your idea and say whether you are an RSCOE student.
• Ask whether non-students can join, what the current intake is and what the selection steps are.

Know the thrust areas

• Agriculture and food processing, electric vehicles, non-conventional energy, AI and ML, automation, robotics and drone technology, defence, environment, and health care.
• Ideas that fit one of these areas are the ones the foundation names as its focus.

Plan for the prototype stage

• Prototype work can use the institute Fab Lab, which lists TIG and MIG welding, CNC, VMC, laser cutting of non-metals and 3D printing.
• Expect training in IPR and business model development alongside it.

What is not yet confirmed

• Intake dates, the selection process, funding terms and whether the innovator awards are running are not published.

JSPM's Rajarshi Shahu College of Engineering (RSCOE) runs an innovation and incubation foundation, the RSCOE Innovation and Incubation Foundation (RSCOE IIF), from its Tathawade campus in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune. The college is an autonomous institute affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University, approved by AICTE, accredited by NBA for its UG programmes and accredited by NAAC with an A grade.

What the foundation does

Its stated mission is to give engineering and management students of RSCOE an ecosystem to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship, so they can become self reliant. The activities it names are training in ideation, design thinking, IPR, entrepreneurship development and business model development; prototype development in the institute Fab Lab; IP facilitation; exhibitions for startup product showcases; and an investors meet. It also names interaction with local MSMEs, students, entrepreneurs and incubated projects.

Thrust areas

The foundation names eight thrust areas: agriculture and food processing, electric vehicles, non-conventional energy, AI and ML, automation, robotics and drone technology, defence, environment, and health care.

Who can take part

The mission is aimed at RSCOE's engineering and management students. The objectives go wider, saying the foundation wants to encourage students, researchers or any individual or group of individuals to ideate and design solutions, irrespective of age. Which of these applies to a given applicant is not spelled out.

Partners and mentors

The foundation lists memoranda of understanding, including with PCSIC Pune and T-Hub in Hyderabad, and agri-business incubators at PDKV, Akola and SRTM University, Nanded. It names mentors and says there are more from all its thrust areas.

Wider startup activity

The college's Startup Cell lists an MoU with PCSIC, participation in startup conclaves at PCSIC and in Pune, an alumni entrepreneurs meet and a startup award to an alumnus. The Innovation Council also asks students and faculty to register ideas on the national YUKTI portal. Its policy says projects that can become prototypes and then startups should be entered there, and that a funding request to management can be drafted for selected projects.

Open points

The foundation lists awards for innovators as proposed rather than running. Intake dates, selection steps, cohort sizes and funding terms are not published.