Expressing delight over the launch, Dr. Chintan Vaishnav said, “Today, Chandigarh topped the 2021 India Innovation Index in the UT/City State Category. As the Atal Incubation Centre, ISB plays the important role of an ecosystem builder who convenes all stakeholders, this modern maker space will be a cherry on the icing that is the innovation ecosystem of Punjab."
Makerspace@AIC-ISB offers AI and ML lab facilities such as human behaviour study software that enhance product efficiency and AR/VR testing headsets with dedicated performance zone to test in highly responsive environments. Makerspace@AIC-ISB is based on a DIY philosophy and offers hands-on access to the most essential, exciting, and versatile maker space equipment: hand tools, laser cutters, 3D printers, a CNC router, and 3D scanners.
The inauguration of MakerSpace@AIC-ISB was a part of I-Connect@ISB, a day-long event that brought together a community of entrepreneurs, enablers, and ecosystem leaders at ISB. I-Connect@ISB also hosted a roundtable attended by senior leaders from the government, industry and academia on how to promote a robust and vibrant startup ecosystem in the country.
"Inculcating entrepreneurship is central to the Indian School of Business's approach towards business education. The School not only nurtures entrepreneurs but also handholds them to become established businesses in their field through various initiatives," said Prof Bhagwan Chowdhry, Faculty Director of I-Venture @ ISB, which fosters entrepreneurship and nurtures start-ups at ISB through various initiatives and programmes.
Located within the Indian School of Business, Mohali campus, AIC is a business accelerator empowering early-stage founders to build high-impact investable startups. AIC at ISB has incubated 60+ startups to date and sectors include- agri-tech, green energy, healthcare, and people mobility solutions. Further sector specific accelerator programs have been launched in the past for Social Impact, SaaS, women entrepreneurs etc.
ISB is taking various initiatives to help the startup ecosystem grow in the region. ISB has been a founding member of Startup Punjab hub at STPI in Mohali and, more recently, was involved in the ideation of the Innovation Mission Punjab, a government-led ecosystem enabler in the state. Of the 100 odd unicorns in India, 12 of them have ISB alumni as founders/co-founders.
