CII to set up a centre to help start-ups in smaller towns

Industry lobby group Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) plans to set up a centre of excellance to help build start-ups in smaller towns across India. The centre will aid entrepreneurs to create business plans, tools and applications for rural areas.

"CII has taken this as a major task and we are in the final stages of setting up the centre. We will house this centre at an appropriate city," said S Gopalakrishnan (Kris), Past President, CII and Chairman, India Innovation Summit & Co-Founder, Infosys.

CII will provide the needed help in terms of training and support where required, particularly in places like Hubballi, Dharwad and Kalburagi, to name but a few, he said in a statement. CII is holding its innovation summit in Bengaluru, which was inaugurated by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah.

Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said, had been in the forefront of Industrial Development and catalysing innovation in the country's growth story. "Our effort to promote innovation has helped in the establishment of a number of start-ups in the state. Today, Karnataka is at the fore-front in attracting startups" he added.