AP Signs MoU with Cyient Foundation, AICTE To Foster Entrepreneurial Skills, Strengthen the Startup Ecosystem State's First Urban Innovation Cluster to be Set up in Vizag

In a major step toward fostering entrepreneurial skills among youth and enhancing the startup ecosystem in the State, Andhra Pradesh Government on Wednesday signed a tripartite MoU with Cyient Foundation and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

The initiative is expected to significantly strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s innovation infrastructure and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The agreement was formalised in the presence of Nara Lokesh, Minister for Education and IT, at his residence in Undavalli. Senior officials from the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC), Cyient Foundation, and AICTE participated.

Under this collaboration, Urban Innovation Clusters will be established, with the first cluster to be launched in Visakhapatnam. These clusters will focus on instilling entrepreneurial thinking in educational institutions, fostering intellectual property (IP) generation, and promoting startup culture. The initiative aims to enhance the skills and capabilities of students, faculty, and institutions across the state.

The MoU also seeks to build strong partnerships between educational institutions, industry players, and investors—laying the foundation for a more dynamic innovation-driven ecosystem.

As part of this initiative, specialised centers titled i-CARE (Innovation Creation and Research for Entrepreneurship) and i-CAFE (Idea Creation and Auxiliary Facilities for Entrepreneurship) will be set up. In addition, IPR and Technology Transfer (IPR-TT) cells will be established in engineering colleges, especially in and around the Visakhapatnam region.

Key activities will include boot camps, hackathons, innovation fairs, and entrepreneurship competitions. Cluster-level conclaves and expert mentorship sessions with industry leaders will also be organized to nurture a culture of innovation and enterprise among students and educators.

The APSSDC will serve as the nodal agency to coordinate efforts between various state departments and implementation partners.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by G. Ganesh Kumar, MD & CEO, APSSDC,

K. Raghu, Executive Director, APSSDC, Narayana Bharat Gupta, Commissioner, Collegiate Education, Dr. B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, Founder Chairman and Board Member, Cyient, Dr. Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman, AICTE & CEO, Dr. PNSV Narasimham, President and Head – Corporate Functions, Cyient Ltd., Deepan Sahu, Assistant Innovation Director, AICTE Innovation Cell, Dr. Sudhakar P, CEO, BVR School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Dr. S.V. Kota Reddy, Vice Chancellor, VIT-AP and Krishna Mohan D, Senior Director, CSR Programs, Cyient Ltd.