Lucknow, December 30: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a meeting on Monday regarding the UP Innovation Fund (UPIF), directing all three technical universities in the state to promote innovation and support startups. He emphasized setting up innovation centers in these universities with full facilities to assist student entrepreneurs.
Additionally, he called for comprehensive mapping of global and local markets to guide students in developing innovations aligned with current demands.
Highlighting the rapid evolution of technology, CM Yogi stated, “Innovation must keep pace with changing technology and global market trends. To achieve this, Centers of Excellence should be established to drive new innovations. Centers for Innovation must also be established in all three technical universities for which the government will provide the necessary funding.”
The Chief Minister reiterated that while the government has ample funds, young innovators often lack financial support. He stressed the importance of channeling funds through universities to empower students, stating, “This initiative will lead to groundbreaking innovations, empowering the youth and enhancing the state’s reputation on a national and global scale.”
He instructed officials to draft a detailed plan to implement these measures. He also called for development of trades based on global market mapping and modernization of traditional trades to meet contemporary needs.
Emphasizing the need to integrate startups into the broader ecosystem, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated, “Technical universities should provide space for ODOP (One District One Product) initiatives alongside modern technology.”
He instructed universities to identify trades based on current market needs and to actively encourage students to pursue innovation. The Chief Minister also emphasized granting universities complete autonomy to foster innovation, asserting that such freedom is essential for new ideas to emerge. Furthermore, he directed universities to collaborate with IITs to enhance their innovation capabilities.
Notably, under CM Yogi’s leadership, a contribution of Rs 400 crore was approved two years ago to support startups. Simultaneously, investment managers were expected to contribute between Rs 1,200 crore and Rs 3,600 crore.
In this context, the Chief Minister proposed equalizing the contributions of the state government and investment managers. This approach is expected to boost innovation across the state and provide students with opportunities to showcase their talents and ideas.
