Visit to “Forum for Innovation, Incubation, Research and Entrepreneurship (FiiRE)”
Dr. Shami Pai, Dr. Maithili Naik and Ms. Muktali Kunkolienkar, visited the FiiRE incubation centre at Don Bosco Engineering College, Fatorda, Margao-Goa on July 19, 2021 from11.00 am to 12.45 pm, with the objective to activate the College Incubation Centre. The faculty members got an opportunity to interact with D.S. Prashant, CEO, FiiRE, Venugopal TR, Incubation Manager, FiiRE and Sudip Faldesai, Project Officer, State Innovation Council Goa. The interaction commenced with a presentation by Mr. Venugopal on the idea behind establishing FiiRE and the facilities offered to entrepreneurs and start-ups. He briefed the faculty members on the entire process involved in providing assistance to companies. He highlighted that FiiRE prefers assisting Start-ups working in the field of Agriculture and Rural ecosystem. Mr. Venugopal showed the work cubicles, Co-working space, and other amenities available at FiiRE for start-up promoters.
Mr. Prashant discussed with the faculty members the proposed plan to activate the Incubation Centre at Shree Damodar College. He inquired with the faculty members the motive behind volunteering for this proposal and the capabilities or entrepreneurial qualities inherent in their students. He also mentioned that for the successful functioning of the Incubation Centre, it is essential that the drive for pushing it ahead should come from the students. He highlighted the importance of having at least one successful start-up student case on the campus to motivate the other students. Mr. Prashant asked the faculty members to prepare a workable plan of action for activation of the incubation facility at their institution and share it with him prior to the next meeting. He agreed to visit the institution on the 3rd August 2021 to take the discussion ahead.
The faculty also got an opportunity to interact with Mr. Sudip Faldesai, Project Officer, Goa State Innovation Council. Mr. Faldesai briefed the faculty on the various research and innovation schemes of State Government available to students –faculty and gave a tour of the STEM laboratory setup by Goa State Innovation Council for public at Don Bosco Engineering College, Fatorda- Margao, Goa.