Inauguration of Business Incubation Centre

The Business Incubation Centre established at Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Cochin under the project Zonal Technology Management - Business Planning and Development (ZTM-BPD) Unit will be inaugurated on 5^th April 2012, by Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary DARE and Director General, ICAR. The inaugural meeting is scheduled at 02.00 pm at the Rooftop Auditorium of LIFT Cochin.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) started the Business Incubation drive through the World Bank funded National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP), specifically to promote business ventures in the Indian agricultural sector. The Business Incubation Centre at CIFT aims at nurturing the development of technology based and knowledge driven business ventures in the fisheries sector, by helping them to survive and grow during their start up period.

The ZTM-BPD Unit began its operations at CIFT during August 2009. A total of 46 entrepreneurs who are interested in starting commercial business ventures in fisheries sector have enrolled for direct / virtual incubation at CIFT. The Incubation Centre is well equipped to provide an integrated package of technology, work space, shared office services, specialized equipment and value added business services. At present, the office facilities are made available to 9 incubatees for a maximum period of three years. A Pilot Plant Complex with state-of-the-art generic semi-commercial production facilities for fish and meat based products is also made available to the incubatees. The lines include pre-processing, cooking, retort pouch processing, canning, sausage production, extruded products, curing & drying, battering & breading, products packing, effluent treatment and cold storage systems.

The ZTM-BPD Business Incubation Centre has become a ^'one stop shop for entrepreneurs^', by providing an entrepreneur friendly environment for the establishment of technology based business ventures. Entrepreneurs with good business ideas or promising technologies are also encouraged to approach and register with the Centre at CIFT.