Start-up Entrepreneur Workshop on ‘Clean Water Technologies for Incubation’ organized by AIC BARC
Start-up Entrepreneur Workshop on `Clean Water Technologies for Incubation’ organized by ATAL INUBATION CENTRE -BARC (AIC-BARC) on Wednesday, March 29, 2023
A Start-up Entrepreneurship Workshop was organized by Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) — BARC, DAE Convention Centre, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094 on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. This follows the first one on Dry and Wet waste management technologies held on March 10, 2023. AIC-BARC is established under the ambit of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog to create a startup eco-system based on spin-off technologies of Department of Atomic Energy.
AIC-BARC has been set up in line with the “AatmaNirbharBharat” Abhiyaan announced by Hon. Prime Minister, and subsequent reforms in Atomic Energy Sector declared by Finance Minister on 17th May 2020. AIC-BARC is one of the first Technology Development cum incubation centres set up by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) for the purpose of fostering synergy between government research facilities and tech entrepreneurs.
Students pursuing final year and those who completed undergraduate studies in Sciences/Engineering/Commerce were invited for the event. Overwhelming response was received for the invitation and about 65 attended the workshop, most of them being from outside Mumbai and suburbs. In the Inaugural session, the AIC-BARC facilities for entrepreneurs was explained and the core strength of the department on deep tech know-how and potential of these technologies for low investment high volume products was emphasized, making them more suitable for start-ups.
During the workshop two technologies, namely, the domestic and community scale water filtration and visual detection techniques for contaminants, e.g., Chromium, Arsenic, Fluoride, and Aluminium were presented. These technologies aim to contribute towards the Jal Jeevan Mission of the Govt. of India.
Water quality problems exist nearly in all the parts of our country. It is estimated that -80% of health problems can be traced to deficiency in the water quality. The membrane-based technologies of BARC for treatment of ground water with respect to pathogens, arsenic, iron, fluoride, heavy metals, nitrate and salinity are cost-effective, and suitable for rural deployment as electricity supply is not required. Kits developed based on visual detection technologies can be used by common man for detection of contaminants near the source.
In the workshop, the technologies were live-demonstrated and business model were also presented. Workshop ended with a very lively and interactive feedback session wherein aspiring entrepreneurs interacted with a panel of experts from BARC and the success of the workshop indicates a promise of launching few successful start-ups in coming years.