TREC - STEP India
Tiruchirappalli Regional Engineering College - Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Park (TREC-STEP), is one of the first Science Parks in India, promoted in 1986, primarily by Department of Science and Technology; Government of India, Government of Tamil Nadu and other Financial Institutions along with Regional Engineering College, Trichy.
The Entrepreneurship Development Mission is to encourage the formation and growth of knowledge based Industries of young science and technology persons and to take up other industrial development activities. In line with this, TREC-STEP has promoted 160 new Industrial ventures of technocrat entrepreneurs, mostly student entrepreneurs, in different fields, through its various Entrepreneurship Development initiatives, so far.
Some of these industries are innovative ventures promoted with active technical assistance from REC faculty. The conceptual expertise of National Institute of Technology (NIT) faculty is realized as commercial ventures of young budding Entrepreneurs in many cases. These synergistic efforts of the members of the faculty and young entrepreneurs have resulted in creation of new wealth, employment opportunities for the society and many distinctive benefits for the industrial sector at large.
Through these 160 industries promoted by TREC-STEP, more than 3000-4000 sustainable job opportunities have been created for the country. Goods worth a minimum of Rs.100 crores are added to our GDP every year. The National Exchequer gains a minimum of Rs.3 to 4 crores annually out of these ventures, through various tax revenues. While these are the direct benefits resultant out of the project, in the reverse flow, the academic community has gained rich industrial experience which finds its natural flow to the benefit of the students, there by strengthening the curriculum and the skill levels of young engineers also.
TREC-STEP was awarded as 'the Best Performing STEP in India' in 2002 by the Ministry of Science and Technology and one of the TREC-STEP's entrepreneur was also awarded as 'the Best Entrepreneur' by Entrepreneurship Development Institute, Ahmedabad.
To promote start-up ventures of young entrepreneurs, TREC-STEP provides a spectrum of Entrepreneurship Development initiatives covering, Training, Nursery incubator space during the initial gestation period, Central Common Machining facilities, Systems and Networking support, catalogue library, funding schemes etc.
These facilities considerably reduce the initial investment commitments of the entrepreneurs thereby reducing the risk. Common Facilities such as Workshops, Computer Networks etc., have always been a boon for budding enterprises. The ready availability of mundane requirements for new ventures also motivates entrepreneurs to take up their new ventures enthusiastically and enable them to concentrate on core competency development more.
The availability of on-line consultancy from a team of management professionals, to analyze various business propositions and to develop suitable business strategies, provides budding entrepreneurs greater impetus. The core competency of the parent institution NIT, Trichy, constantly reinforces the technological innovation of the new ventures of the young entrepreneurs.
With all these specialties, it is no wonder that TREC-STEP has constantly registered a higher success rate in its Entrepreneurship Development Programmes in the generation of a new breed of entrepreneurs and recognized as a most successful STEP-Incubator in the country.
The committed TREC-STEP entrepreneurs are now the major resource network for mentoring new ventures. Entrepreneurs from different technology domains act as mentors for promoting new entrepreneurs in these domains during the initial stages.
To supplement Entrepreneurship Development responsibilities, TREC-STEP is also directly involved in development of new technologies regularly. Recently, TREC-STEP has successfully completed a Technology Development project for Indian Railways in Oil Fired Systems for Steam Locomotives for the Nilagiri Mountain Railway, for preserving the heritage mountain steam engines, for which TREC-STEP has won the Best Innovation Award from the Indian Railway Board.
TREC-STEP also undertakes various training programmes in latest Management and Technology areas. The initiative of TREC-STEP in Training and Consultancy for ISO 9000 and Total Quality Management, is a pioneering success in the country. TREC-STEP has conducted various ISO 9000 programmes such as General Awareness Programmes, System Documentation Programmes, Programmes for specific Industrial sectors and Post Diploma programmes for generating Quality professionals, way back from 1993 onwards.
TREC-STEP also conducted Technology Upgradation Programmes for different industrial sectors. Programmes for Machining Industries and Fabrication Industries have been conducted for 44 industries, with a focus of improving efficiency through Quality Management.
A Technology Upgradation Programme for Energy Technologies and Management has been conducted for SSIs in the region. TREC-STEP is conducting various Skill Development training programmes in CNC Operations, Artificial Intelligence, CAD-CAM etc. Recently, to motivate unemployed youth to take up either self-employment ventures or employment opportunities in unconventional areas, Diploma programmes in Refrigeration and Air-conditioning and Electronic Servicing and Maintenance Technology, have also been offered on Public Private Partnership mode.
TREC-STEP has conducted various software development programmes periodically to improve the software skill sets in IT areas and has so far trained nearly 10,000 persons in different software areas. Besides this, various other Management Development Programmes and Management Consultancy assignments are constantly being taken up, such as Orientation Programme for improving the Efficiency, Work Culture and Service environment of District Industries Centres for seven districts, Management Training Programme for Small Industries Managers etc.
TREC-STEP also conducts Faculty Development Programmes for the faculty members of Universities and Technical Education Institutions, in the area of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. TREC-STEP constantly arranges Academia - Industry meets to further excellence in Industry Institution Innovation Interaction.
TREC- STEP`s FUNDING INITIATIVES
Technology Development Board, Department of Science & Technology support for TREC-STEP's Start-up Incubation Fund.
For the first time, to help budding start-ups with early stage funding, the Technology Development Board, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, through TREC-STEP, has come out with an innovative early stage funding mechanism for knowledge based start-ups - the Incubation Fund support.
Before the entry of venture capitalists and financial institutions, it is the individual entrepreneur, who has already invested his career and taken a huge risk, has to also find means for early stage funding requirements of his innovative venture, on his own. With the absence of early stage institution funding, the innovative start-up ventures have to overcome many financial hurdles at the early stages of venture formation in order to sustain and be successful.
Technology Development Board has selected 5 STEPs / TBIs in the country to support good entrepreneurial venture to overcome their initial hurdles in venture funding. TREC-STEP is one of them and has received Rs. 100 lakhs for funding 5 ventures.
Some of the venture components eligible for support under this Incubation fund include:
- Market study including global technology and business benchmarking.
- Visits, learning systems development and training requirements.
- Resources for facilitating research and development networks and linkages.
- Prototype development, process modeling and simulation studies.
- Product testing and validation requirements including test marketing.
- Exchange of intents of participation and tie-ups for research and development etc.
TREC-STEP's cross-functional professional management team responsible for managing the fund is not only responsible for ensuring the performance and growth of the fund, but shall also be responsible for business concept focus of the start-ups, management systems and processes, due diligence and enabling participation of experts in the start-up venture growth process.
The incubation fund is envisaged to open-up new possibilities of venture creation since potential start-up entrepreneurs who had no means to pre-financing requirements shall now have a unique opportunity to venture their ideas into successful businesses. This shall also directly ensure more high growth triggers in start-ups by ensuring professional participation of incubator management team through equity and so more committed incubation support for the start-ups.
Department of Scientific & Industrial Research (DSIR), Government of India & TIFAC supported 'Innovation Fund - Technopreneur Promotion Programme (TePP)'
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), has supported this interesting proposal of providing financial assistance to potential innovators to overcome innovation challenges successfully. The TePP Programme endeavors to tap the vast innovative potential of the citizens of India and assist them to become Technopreneurs.
TREC-STEP, Tiruchirappalli Regional Engineering College - Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Park, is the only implementing agency for this 'Innovation Fund:
Technopreneur Promotion Programme' (TePP), jointly supported by Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and TIFAC. The aim of this Innovation Fund Project is to extend financial support to individual Innovators, for converting their innovative ideas into working prototypes/ models.
Any Innovative Indian - A Farmer, an Artisan an Engineer, Scientist, Medical practitioner, Housewife or even a Student, with an original idea/ invention / know-how, is eligible for support under TePP to the extent of Rs. 10.00 lakh per project, as grants-in-aid which can be utilized towards activities like Research and Development, fabrication of prototypes, testing and trials and patenting support for the developed prototype.
For the first time DSIR is outsourcing the TePP Programme to TREC-STEP, Trichy, to cover the whole southern India Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman Nicobar and Minicoy Island.
The individual innovators so initiated, shall then be facilitated to become successful entrepreneurs, up scaling to marketable levels through TREC-STEP's business incubation process and eco-systems.
TREC-STEP conducted a One-day Innovation Funding Camp on 7th February 2006, to provide an opportunity for interested Innovators from the southern states, to have one-to-one discussions with senior DSIR officials, on accessing financial support for realizing their creative ideas into prototypes/processes.
The camp provided counseling to the Innovators on converting their ideas into commercially viable products. Pre-screening of applications was conducted at the Camp, for short listing the Applications for further processing. As a follow-up so far nearly 40 applications were reviewed by Experts and 20 of them short listed and send to DSIR for further approval.
So, TREC-STEP Incubation Strategies covers the complete spectrum of start-up promotion right from conceptualization to successful graduation outside the incubator. Infact, the recent experiences of 'TREC-STEP in UNIDO-DST Cluster Development Project, has taken TREC-STEP further in leveraging these successful graduated start-ups to global performance and continuing excellence.
With this coverage from idea formation, counseling, business strategy formulation, business planning, HR initiatives, infrastructure support, technological support and back up, graduation to next stage, leveraging to global performance, TREC-STEP has mustered sufficient expertise, resource networks and linkages. With this knowledge capital accumulation, TREC-STEP is compelled to take off to new higher planes.
Therefore TREC-STEP has initiated new proposals with World Bank for ICT start-up promotion, DST for putting up a design innovation facility, Ministry of Small Scale Industries for new technology incubation building, EU for promoting cross cultural ventures and many more futuristic initiatives. TREC-STEP has also very good global linkages with incubators throughout the world.
In order to strengthen the global linkages, TREC-STEP not only regularly participates in World Summits of Science Park and Business Incubators and other important conferences, but also hosted the 10th Global Summit of Science Parks and Business Incubators Associations in New Delhi, 2004, which for the first time was hosted outside the developed world and in the south.
These linkages are primarily developed with an eye to bring in new technologies, business potential and global markets to the reach of the start-up entrepreneurs through Business Incubator linkages, and are now starting to bear fruits.
NEW INITIATIVES AND MAJOR PROJECTS
1. World Bank Support:
TREC-STEP is successful in getting World Bank infoDev Development support to the tune of US$ 3,00,000 for its proposal. It has been selected as one of the 17 major proposals out of the 147 proposals submitted at global level. With the advent of globalisation and the opportunities it has unfolded for the Indian society, developing regional competencies for accessing, networking and utilizing the global performance standards, markets and opportunities by incubatee start-up ventures for generating jobs and wealth in the region is the strategic intent of the project.
A set of specific objectives planned are as follows:
- Enabling more effective Business Incubation processes by utilizing ICT resources
- Accessing global best practices in ICT skills and business incubation
- Using ICT as a tool to upscale the performance of existing SMEs and to leverage the regional linkages with Business Incubation organizations for promoting business across boundaries
- Demonstrating, documenting and disseminating the model of developing ICT synergies in business incubation for promoting knowledge based start-up clusters for other incubators.
Milestone reached:
- TREC-STEP has conducted a training programme for all business incubators in India with JSSATE-STEP, Noida
- TREC-STEP has generated manifolds resources from Ministry of Small Scale Industries, Government of Tamilnadu and others for leveraging World Bank support
- Many new venture initiatives are unveiled
- World Bank has already recognized this as an important successful project amidst 70 odd projects it has funded across the world and invited TREC-STEP to present in the Manila Workshop Inaugural session and Donor Conference at Washington DC
2. Department of Science and Technology Support for Design Innovation Facilities:
TREC-STEP has approached Department of Science and Technology with a proposal for developing new 'Design Innovation Facilities' for creating an enabling hardware, software and networking infrastructure for promoting hitech entrepreneurs in design engineering areas. Department of Science and Technology has graciously sanctioned a project for Rs. 98 lakhs for this proposal for modernization of incubation facilities at TREC-STEP.
As a major retooling exercise of TREC-STEP, incubation facilities, a high-tech design innovation facility comprising a state-of-the-art software and hardware platforms together with required connectivity through earth station and support systems primarily for supporting the new ventures of the budding entrepreneurs are being established.
An earth station with 8 Mbps connectivity is established in the campus. New systems and software are being procured. Business Incubation Programmes for new start-up ventures are being conducted. Potential start-up ventures are identified and getting incubated. TREC-STEP has trained nearly 500 young professionals in IT skills in this programme with an intension of identifying potential entrepreneurs.
3. EU Project for 'Business Incubators Network Development Platform for Knowledge Sharing and Business Incubators Partnership between EU and India':
TREC-STEP with the support of DST and EU has received a project for knowledge sharing and cross-boarder venture creation between EU and India. The total project outlay for this eighteen month project is Rs.124 crores, in that Department of Science and Technology has given a support of Rs. 44 lakhs against EU's grants of 65% of the project amounting to Euro 150,000. Under this project a strong partnership between UK Business Incubation Limited (UKBI), German Science Parks and Business Incubators Association (ADT), Swede Park, Sweden and TREC-STEP has been forged and the project is at advanced stages of implementation now.
Under this project activities completed include:
- Training Programme for Indian Business Incubator Managers which was conducted in August, 2005. Six European Business Incubation Experts participated and shared their experiences, nearly 100 business incubator managers participated as against 35 planned
- 12 member Indian Team visited business incubators in Germany, Sweden and UK and were able to generate large enthusiasm and support from EU Business Incubation community and start-up companies.
- Study of Business Potential between EU and India is completed.
- Conference on Incubation NEXT (New Exciting Technology Ventures Ventures was organized at TREC-STEP from 27th to 29th June, 2006.
Under the Development Support Platform for promoting cross cultural ventures between EU and India, already more than 20 projects have been identified and EU & Indian entrepreneurs are interacting to develop potential partnership ventures. As an offshoot of this proposal, already 3 other proposals have been jointly proposed to European Union and British Council Division for further enabling this partnership network. Many new proposals jointly with the existing partners are envisaged in the near future.
4. Promoting an Incubator Network for Trichy Region:
TREC-STEP, along with Department of Science and Technology, has identified three institutions in Trichy Region to promote Technology Business Incubators. TREC-STEP has played a mentoring and directional role in addition to all other assistance. This network shall bring in an additional investment of Rs. 7.5 crores to the region for incubation and industrial development activities.
The proposals selected and shall form this network are:
- The First Women Technology Business Incubator in India, Periyar Technology Business Incubator at Periyar Maniammai College of Engineering for Women
- A hi-tech business incubator in Welding Technologies with Welding Research Institute of Public Sector giant, BHEL, Tiruchirappalli
- Medium Technology Incubator Project with Trichy Districts Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (TIDITSSIA) has been planned with TREC-STEP and approved by DST for funding
TREC-STEP is already providing all necessary assistance for these projects right from conceptualization, planning, management team development, strategic formulation etc. TREC-STEP's role shall be mentoring, supportive arrangements through effective networking for promoting new start-up companies.
5. UNDP -DST Project SKILLS: 'Skills and Knowledge for Improved Livelihood and Living Standards'
This 3-year project is for disseminating Employment Generation System through skill development centres at Chennai and Bangalore in the area of Modern Appliances Maintenance and Micro-enterprise Incubation through Public-Private-Partnership.
TREC-STEP, earlier, had initiated number of new elements such as 3 state-of-the-art laboratories in Electronic Appliances Lab, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Lab and Home Appliances Lab for the students in the VoTEG UNDP Project which has got an evaluation rating of 9.5 out of 10 by the independent evaluation team at DST.
In addition to that a video training theatre was also established. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) such as Whirlpool, BPL, Samsung and others are closely working with TREC-STEP under this project. A Soft skills module to enhance employability and Entrepreneurship Development module for enhancing self-employment capabilities were vital ingredients provided.
A separate batch for handicapped is also conducted in order to generate a Guide for Modern Appliances Management Training for Physically Challenged Trainees. A special programme for improve women was being conducted since women participation in the Modern Appliances Maintenance.
Now this project is further leveraged with UNDP support for SKILSS project for disseminating using PPP mode. Under the SKILLS project 3 PPP training centres at Chennai and Bangalore were established.
6. UNIDO-DST Cluster Development Programme
With UNIDO & DST, TREC-STEP is implementing another proposal for Cluster Development for Trichy Engineering Industrial Cluster. During the project duration of 3 years, TREC STEP has applied the UNIDO methodology for Cluster Development Programme for enhancing better performance of the industries and now shifted responsibilities to BHELSSIA (BHEL Small Scale Industries Association) for self sustenance of the initiatives. The objective of the project is to bring wealth, growth and employment to the region through Trichy engineering Industries.
TREC - STEP has been closely working with BHEL , various institutions and Trichy Engineering Industries Associations for developing suitable interventions for this project.. UNIDO has recognized this project as one of the successful interventions in Cluster Development in the whole of India.
INCUBATING TARGETS ACHIEVED SOFAR
Products / Technology Developed and commercialized:
|
Total upto 2005
|
Products/ Technologies developed through Integration |
79
72
|
Entrepreneurs Incubated:
Incubation Record
|
Total |
Knowledge based start- up Ventures
Other Training and Self- Employment Ventures |
160
4430
|
SERVICES
Facilities created:
TREC-STEP is putting-up a new incubator building of 18,000 sq. ft. incubator facilities with state-of-the-art incubation space, latest system and design innovation facilities, design innovation theatre and other world class support facilities.
The project is jointly funded by Ministry of Small Scale Industries, Government of Tamilnadu and Department of Science and Technology. Construction work has already started and the building is expected to be ready for incubation from April, 2007, with all incubation and design facilities in place. Ministry of small Scale Industries has funded the proposal to the tune of Rs. 100 lakhs, Government of Tamilnadu for Rs. 50 lakhs, Department of Science and Technology to the tune of 98 lakhs.
In addition to this TREC-STEP have already the following facilities for incubating start-up ventures:
Building:
TREC-STEP is situated in 50 acres of land, sandwiched between the host institution, National Institute of Technology and one of the India's largest PSU's Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.
a) Administrative Building: Plinth area of 395.0 Sq. Mtrs.,
b) Central Workshop: a Common Facility Centre for providing production support for incubating ventures and also existing industries.
c) Nursery Sheds: Nursery sheds of TREC-STEP have unique architectural design. These structures enhance the aesthetic appearance, illumination and ventilation and hence energy saving and also provide high space for installing large machinery comfortably. There are at present a total of 15 nursery sheds and they are for light Electro-mechanical industries.
Global Connectivity through Earth Station:
Anticipating shift from manufacturing sector to IT sector and globalization changes brought in, TREC-STEP has established an Earth Station to provide global connectivity to enhance the reach of budding entrepreneurs. This alliance with Software Technology Parks of India has provided 8 Mbps connectivity through the international gateway, providing exclusive access and support for IT ventures in the region.
Training Facilities:
A new training facility for skill training is established by TREC-STEP recently, with three specialized state-of-the-art laboratories, 2 classrooms, Video training theatre, Student lobby, Faculty rooms and Storeroom.
OTHER FACILITIES
Library:
TREC-STEP has a library of over 2300 specialized books. These books are focused on meeting the information needs of budding ventures. Product finders, Manufacturers and supplier's catalogues, Market surveys & Trends, Management Concepts & Tools, Technology books and IT kits are available for entrepreneurs in this library.
Computer Facility-WIFI & LAN Network with Software backup:
TREC-STEP has a good WIFI & LAN computer network to provide computing, data processing and design requirements of entrepreneurs. Latest software and expert faculty are also available for on line help. In addition to this TREC-STEP has number of Interactive Business Planners to guide young entrepreneurs through various stages of Business Plan Preparation. This software support and guidance provides the back-bone support for incubating ventures. TREC-STEP has established a City IT learning Centre in the heart of the city for the convenience of the student community.
In addition to the above facilities the following are available not only to TREC-STEP and its incubatees but also to industries in the region. Industry Association and also individual industries frequently use the services below on chargeable basis
- Conferencing Facility
- Communication Facility-Phone, Fax, Internet connections etc.
- Photocopying facility
- Canteen Facility
LINKS TO MOST IMPORTANT KEY PLAYERS IN THE REGION
www.trichy.com
Trichy Region's Website
www.ciionline.org
Confederation of Indian Industries
www.bhel.com
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
www.nitt.edu
National Institute of Technology