Sagarmala Startup and Innovation Initiative (S2I2) aims to create an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship in the port and maritime sector in India. It seeks to bring in new ideas, energy and youth to address the challenges of the sector. With cooperation between MoS institutions, academic and training institutions, research institutes and CEMS, NTCPWC, CICMT, other Govt. departments and private sector, it will provide financial, institutional, infrastructure, mentorship and new market access to startups to create a Maritime Innovation Hub.
The focus will not just be restricted to high tech areas but also small and micro entrepreneurship in the coastal communities. Furthermore, training institutions under Ministry of Shipping will implement GRIP( Graduate Research Innovation Programme) to provide students an opportunity to address maritime related problems and take on entrepreneurship.
To begin with, we will start engaging the stakeholders; to this effect we may conduct workshops. Workshops, led by students may be conducted in each of the IMU campus/ NTCPWC/CICMT/GMU in partnership with local major and minor ports. Each such workshop will focus on a theme/challenge (e.g Maritime Challenge, Smart Port Hackathon , smart skills, improving seafarers well being, etc) , signing of partnerships and broad propagation of the idea. By the next 5-6 months, we can be in a position to provide 6 week intensive maritime startup incubation programme in four proposed incubators CICMT in East, NTCPWC in South, NINI in north and GMB University in West. If we can create pool of sectoral mentors and leverage the Startup India platform, it would be good progress for the initiative. We can fine tune the plan based on experience. The next few months of efforts and interactions can build for a holistic policy for maritime innovation and entrepreneurship. Some key steps towards this are enumerated below:
| S.No | Focus Area | Proposed Key steps |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Institutional Support | Four incubators CICMT in East, NTCPWC in South, NINI in north and GMB University in West. Partnership with industry players for providing market based support Provide mentorship to startups Help in filing and getting patents registered in their name |
| 2 | Infrastructure Support | Co-working spaces in the spare building of the ports etc. Access to new technology developed by MoS Applied Research institutions |
| 3 | Funding Support | Additional Budgetary allocation for startups in Ports and Maritime Sector Cash Awards through Hackathons/ Technology Challenges |
| 4 | Pilot Opportunities | Preference in purchase Access to ports for effective pilots and eventually its commercialization |
| 5 | Showcase Opportunity | Organizing/supporting startup events Incentives for participation in National and International events Organize Hackathons/ Technology Challenges |
KEY FOCUS AREAS FOR 2020
- Startups using artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize processes and create scale in the maritime sector e.g in vessel-tracking data using position analytics.
- Improving efficiency in the maritime sector . e.g improving logistics supply chain through technology
- Smart technologies that automate processes, away from human error.
- Using block chain for shared ledger of data inputs in the maritime industry
- Simulation e.g. Virtual reality for training, gaming & augmented reality to reinvent product & service levels.
- Make life simpler and safer for their customers/stakeholders in the port and maritime sector .
- Improving the lives of coastal communities
- Direct transferable product application to the port and maritime sector
- Improving earnings from fishing