Igniting Young Minds: IIM Jammu under the aegis of MSDE in collaboration with DICCI host Ideathon and Innovation Workshop
To create an enabling environment for transforming informal businesses into formal enterprises, IIM Jammu, under the leadership of Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, has partnered with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India, and the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce (DICCI). They have established 22 Small Business Development Units (SBDUs) across the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. These units will play a critical role in strengthening institutions and delivering quality initiatives for entrepreneurship development. Dr. Mahesh Gadekar serves as Chairperson of Centre for Small Business Development at IIM Jammu.As part of this initiative, IIM Jammu organized a one-day Ideathon and workshop at its Jagti Campus on 26th September 2024. The event was inaugurated by Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu. The event attracted enthusiastic participation from 65 individuals, representing various districts and institutions, including Govt. MAM College, Govt. SPMR College, GCW Gandhi Nagar and Model Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET), Jammu.
Present on the occasion were Dr. Vivek Sharma, CIO, IIM Jammu, Shri Naren Karunakaran, Consultant, SBDU and Dr. Shahid Jibran, Project Manager, SBDU.Throughout the Ideathon, the IIM Jammu incubator team provided crucial guidance on grants, seed funds, and mentor connectivity, equipping participants with actionable insights essential for securing funding and mentorship—key factors for startup success. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Vivek Sharma, CIO, IIM Jammu marking the conclusion of this event, which was part of a series of five Ideathons under the SBDU program, the first of which was held at Bandipora on 2nd September 2024. The event saw enthusiastic participation from the Jammu region and the presence of various faculty and staff from Govt. Maulana Azad Memorial College, Govt. SPMR College and Mr. Rohit Kumar, Chief Manager (Advances), J&K Bank.The event provided a unique platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to present their ideas, gain valuable feedback, and explore opportunities for capacity building and business incubation. The Capacity Building Program by IIM Jammu continues to empower individuals to contribute to the socio-economic development of the region