New Delhi [India], Nov. 17 : The Economic Diplomacy Division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will organise a national contest to identify India's top 25 social innovations in the forthcoming Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) to be held in Bengaluru from January 7 to January 9 next year.
It will be conducting this nation-wide search with the support of Atal Innovation Mission of Niti Aayog said MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup in a press brief here.
"The objective of the contest is to identify a pool of social impact innovators that have developed or are developing commercially feasible solutions to the socio-economic problems of India," said Swarup.
He further said that the initiative would facilitate the creation of a community of innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, grant bodies, and mentors to support the selected startups for commercialisation and scale up.
The key focus sectors for the contest will be cleantech, education, health, housing, public transport, skill development and livelihood, waste management, water and sanitation and women empowerment.
The 25 best innovative Start-ups with a social impact will be showcased to 'Pravasis' participating in the PBD through an exhibition.
The exhibition will offer an excellent opportunity for the Indian diaspora to connect and interact with these social innovators and associate themselves with the social entrepreneurship movement in the country.
Source: ANI