Aug 26, 2025: The Independent Minister of State for Science and Technology in the Union Today at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora, Dr. Jitendra Singh officially opened the DST Inclusive Technology Business Incubator (i-TBI) and iFactory Lab. He called the initiative a significant step toward creating a vibrant start-up ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. Dr. announced a support package worth Rs 5 billion from the Department of Science and Technology (DST). According to Jitendra Singh, the central government is committed to supporting Valley-based aspiring entrepreneurs.

We will begin with 15 new businesses and expand to 30 over the course of the next three years. The objective is to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir's youth never miss India's innovation revolution, he stated. In addition, the Minister unveiled a Technology Innovation Hub (TI Hub) and a 12-month faculty development program, stressing that for students and teachers to remain globally competitive, they must embrace cutting-edge knowledge.

He emphasized that students will be exposed to Industry 4.0 technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, and data analytics through the iFactory Lab, which was established as part of the Ministry of Heavy Industries' C4i4 initiative. Dr. framed the launch within the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework. Jitendra Singh said IUST’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (CIED-IUST Foundation) is a “model of how higher education institutions can integrate incubation, technology development, and start-up support.” Established in 2022, CIED has already drawn over Rs 1.20 crore from the university’s own resources and now hosts key national programs including the DST’s i-TBI scheme, DPIIT’s Startup India Seed Fund Scheme, and SIDBI’s STEM programme.

Dr. emphasized the demographic advantages of J&K, where over 65% of the population is under the age of 35. Innovation and entrepreneurship, according to Jitendra Singh, are essential to addressing the region's high youth unemployment rate. He noted Kashmir's lavender-based "purple revolution" is already demonstrating how agri-startups can generate wealth and livelihoods, and he pointed to potential sunrise sectors such as horti-agri tech, food processing, eco-tourism, handicrafts, and ICT applications. The Minister urged universities, parents, and industry partners to actively support young entrepreneurs rather than diverting them to conventional career paths.

The bizarre phenomenon is that Kashmiri youth excel when they leave home and become highly entrepreneurial. He remarked, "Our collective responsibility is to provide them with the same opportunities here so that they can thrive at home." With the new incubator and labs, IUST is positioning itself as a regional hub of innovation, with advanced facilities like design and prototyping labs, an AICTE IDEA Lab, and a Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Construction Materials developed in partnership with industry.

In accordance with Viksit Bharat @2047, the university's vision is to develop into a Skill University that integrates academics, research, and business creation. Dr. concluded his speech by The initiatives launched at IUST are not only about local transformation but also about ensuring the region's active contribution to India's global leadership in science, technology, and innovation, according to Jitendra Singh, who stated that Jammu and Kashmir's young innovators could emerge as "torchbearers of India's growth story."