Entrepreneurship Development Cell

Origin of EDCs:

The academic institutions play an important role in the economic development of a country as they produce the right type of manpower needed by different sectors of the society. The technical institutions and institutions of higher learning assume greater importance as these produce the technical manpower needed by the industry and R & D institutions. In order to make optimal use of facilities, expertise and know-how available in these institutions for the benefit of the society, it is necessary that appropriate links are established between the institutes of higher learning and the industry.In order to have better interaction and linkage between Industries and Universities, higher learning institutions, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, formed a board, NSTEDB, in the year 1982 which formulated several mechanisms like STEP (Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Park), EDC (Entrepreneurship Development Cells), TBI (Technology Business Incubators) and these mechanisms to be tried out in technical institutions across the country.

Functions of IEDCs:

1. To organise Entrepreneurship Awareness Camps, Entrepreneurship Development Programmes, Faculty Development Programmes and Skill Development Programmes in the college/institutions. 

2. To initiate five innovative student projects each year for new innovative product development.

3. To organize Business Plan Competitions every year.4. To guide and assist prospective entrepreneurs on various aspects such as preparing

project reports, obtaining project approvals, loans and facilities from agencies of support system, information on technologies, etc.

5. To arrange interaction with entrepreneurs and create a mentorship scheme for student entrepreneurs.

6. To facilitate creation of entrepreneur's club in each college to foster culture of entrepreneurship amongst students

7. To act as a Regional Information Centre on business opportunities, processes, technologies, market, etc. by creating and maintaining relevant data bases. 

8. IEDCs would also sensitise the management of the institutions regarding the importance of entrepreneurship and integrate their activities with the Host Institutions.

Objectives of the IEDCs:

1. To act as an institutional mechanism for providing various services including information on all aspects of enterprise building to budding S&T entrepreneurs. 

2. To create Entrepreneurial culture in the Parent Institution and other institutions in the region and to promote the objectives of NSTEDB, including programmes related to women and weaker sections of the society. 

3. To inculcate a culture of innovation driven entrepreneurship through student projects. 

4. To catalyse and promote development of S&T knowledge-based enterprises and promote employment opportunities in the innovative areas. 

5. To respond effectively to the emerging challenges and opportunities both at national and international level relating to SMEs and micro enterprises.

Criteria to Set up an IEDC for an Institution (Engineering College or IIT)

The sponsoring/parent institution should fulfill the following criteria:

1. The institution should be a University/deemed to be University or a premier Institute/College offering Engineering, Technology, Science & Management courses at degree level or above for at least 5 years. In case of a college/institute, it should be duly recognised and affiliated and while in case of the private institutions, it should be promoted by a Trust or a Society registered under relevant Acts besides being recognized/affiliated to AICTE/Universities.

2. Qualified and dedicated faculty in various disciplines with a good Research & Development base and background in industry related activities.

3. Adequate space for locating the Cell including the modifications proposed to be carried out in the building, availability of utilities like electricity, water, telephone installation and internet connectivity.

4. Availability of workshops, laboratories and computational facilities.5. Library with a good collection of books and journals.6. Experience in Entrepreneurship Development and Promotion and Industry related

activities such as Consultancy, Product Development, Testing, Calibration, etc.

1. Tension test on Steel bar2. Bending test on (Steel / Wood) Cantilever beam.3. Bending test on simple support beam.4. Torsion test5. Hardness test6. Spring test7. Compression test on wood or concrete8. Impact test9. Shear test10. Verification of Maxwell’s Reciprocal theorem on beams.11. Use of Electrical resistance strain gauges12. Continuous beam -deflection test.