Support in R&D and innovation in MSMEs

Source – Business Line

The BJP government has approved setting up of “Technology Centre Systems program” for MSMEs under which 15 new Technology Development Centers are proposed to be established, and the existing centers are proposed to be upgraded over next six years. The objective of these centres is to provide support to Electronics Systems Design & Manufacturing. Construction for 4 such technology centers has been started so far.

BJP government launched Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in Budget 2015 with an allocation of Rs. 150 crores out of which only Rs. 16.8 crores have been used. In Budget 2017-18, allocation for this scheme has been reduced to Rs. 112 crores.

To promote innovation in MSMEs, 21 out of 80 promised livelihood business incubators have been approved under the scheme ASPIRE launched in March, 2015. One such incubator has been set up in Deoria, U.P in April, 2015. Another incubators in Rajkot & Jamia have been inaugurated in Dec, 2015 & Nov., 2016 respectively.

Since the progress for proposed centres is very slow & spending is not up to the mark, this promise has been classified as inadequate.