• To develop city based Startup and SME Ecosystems by leveraging Network of Mentors, Investors and incubators

• WOF to build one-stop technology platform and develop deliver e-content to the institutes to support skilling in schools and ITI and entrepreneurship training in colleges

The Govt. of Chhattisgarh and Wadhwani Operating Foundation (WoF) have announced a strategic partnership which aims at making Chhattisgarh a Smart State through Job Creation and Talent Development. Dr. Ajay Kela, President and CEO, Wadhwani Operating Foundation exchanged the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Alex Paul Menon, CEO, CHIPS, Govt. of Chhattisgarh.

Focus areas of this collaboration include making Entrepreneurship Education ubiquitous in Chhattisgarh colleges, developing city based Startup and SME ecosystems and entry level skill development for school college dropouts to enable them for sustainable employment. The Foundation will provide the technology platform, e-content, and advisory services to assist state achieving these these goals.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Ajay Kela, President CEO, Wadhwani Operating Foundation said Chhattisgarh Smart State initiative will focus on job creation and job fulfillment through building and supporting the full life-cycle of the entrepreneurship, Skills and Innovation ecosystems. The strategy is to build city-based ecosystems that include upgraded skills training through transformation of ITIs, entrepreneurship education in colleges, local mentor, investor and incubator networks to support growth start-ups and SMEs. I hope that this collaboration between Govt. of Chhattisgarh and Wadhwani Operating Foundation will spur high-quality job creation in the State.

About Wadhwani Operating Foundation

Wadhwani Operating Foundation was founded in 2000 by Dr. Romesh Wadhwani with the primary mission of accelerating economic development in emerging economies through large-scale job creation. The Foundation is present in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, East Africa and Latin America operating in association with governments, corporates, mentors, investors and educational institutes. Its three Initiatives are driving job creation through entrepreneurship, skills development and innovation.

National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN)inspires, educates, and supports student entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs for creating high-value jobs. NEN has also ventured into creating city-based entrepreneurial ecosystems consisting of mentors, investors, and incubators supporting startups and SMEs. NEN also aims to create world-class innovation ecosystems in critical sectors of high importance in India through innovation grants to 25,000 companies over five years as part of the Startup and Small Business Innovation initiative (SSBI).

Global Skills Network (GSN)aims to equip non-college-bound high school graduates with sufficient work-skills to command family supporting wages. GSN is also working with the Central and State Governments to transform ITIs to modern manufacturing training hubs and multi-skill institutes, and with employers to engage in providing adjunct faculty, internships, and apprenticeships. GSN also facilitates training and development of the educated disabled for mainstreaming them into sustainable, high-quality corporate jobs through a business value proposition.

Policy Research Network (PRN)provides data-driven research inputs for informed policy action focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, skills development and employment aimed at accelerating economic growth.