earlyt times report
Vijaypur, Oct 28: group of enthusiastic students from Government Degree College (GDC) Vijaypur, accompanied by Prof. Meetu Sharma from the Department of Geography under the able guidance of Principal Dr. Ashu Vashisht participated in the BioInnovation Connect and Startup Meet held on October 27, 2025, at the Industrial Biotech Park, Ghatti, Kathua. The event coincided with the launch of the BioNEST Incubator by the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), aimed at supporting innovators, startups, agri-entrepreneurs, researchers, and progressive farmers through incubation and skill development initiatives.
The event was graced by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy; and Department of Space, who presided as the Chief Guest for the occasion. Dr. Singh formally inaugurated the BioNEST Incubation Centre and highlighted the government’s vision of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that the Industrial Biotech Park at Ghatti represents North India’s first biotechnology park and stands as a symbol of the government’s commitment to encouraging research-based industry and rural enterprise.
The BioNEST Incubator, funded by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, will act as a regional hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM, stated that the incubator will focus on thematic areas such as agri-aroma products, phytopharmaceuticals, natural products, and bio-based innovations. He further noted that the centre will organize skill-oriented training programmes to enhance employability in the biotechnology sector and support startups from Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Representing GDC Vijaypur, Prof. Meetu Sharma appreciated the initiative, stating that such programmes provide students valuable exposure to the practical dimensions of innovation and entrepreneurship. She encouraged students to explore opportunities that combine academic learning with local resource-based business models, fostering self-reliance and sustainable development. The participating students expressed gratitude for the opportunity to attend the event, noting that it broadened their understanding of the startup ecosystem and the government’s support for scientific entrepreneurship. The visit served as a valuable learning experience, linking classroom concepts with real-world innovation and enterprise. The BioInnovation Connect and Startup Meet at Ghatti, Kathua, thus marked an important step toward fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship among the youth of the region.
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