Govt. will create ecosystem for startup boost: Fadnavis

“Innovation in startups should be encouraged. We have lacked in creating the ecosystem and now we need to create that. For startups we need to do the hand-holding, mentoring and financing and marketing.

Maharashtra will create an ecosystem to encourage startups so that new ideas and innovations prosper in the country, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said today.

“Innovation in startups should be encouraged. We have lacked in creating the ecosystem and now we need to create that. For startups we need to do the hand-holding, mentoring and financing and marketing.

“The Maharashtra State Innovation Council would create ideas for innovation which will require support of government.

We believe if we create the ecosystem in the state it can lead in innovation explosion in the country,” he said during the ongoing ‘Make in India Week’ here.

He added that the government is proactive and will match expectations of innovators to make lives better.

“In India, innovation is the way forward. The role of the government is to create the much needed ecosystem to create opportunities for the young minds to innovate. I think innovation is nothing but positive thinking for betterment of society. In a country like India we cannot anymore look at the growth trajectory the way we used to in the past,” he said.

Maharashtra Minister of State for planning Deepak Kesarkar said the state needs to evolve in innovation and not just replicate others.

“We must strive to address the issues of the commoners and see how technology can solve them. We need to evolve and not just replicate innovation and technology of others,” he said.

The minister also said innovation cannot be thought in isolation but there is a need to examine its impact, adding, “Technologies should not only be always related to industries but also to initiatives and decisions of the government.”

Kesarkar also said the recently formed Maharashtra State Innovation Council will have to take decisions that will be linked with startups.

Speaking at the event, Council’s Chairman Raghunath Mhashelkar said there is a need to combine technology, talent and trust to ensure speed, scale and sustainability.

“If there is no speed we can’t compete with the world, if there is no scale we will not be able to make an impact and if there is no sustainability then we will vanish. We, therefore, require to create innovation led inclusive growth,” he added.