With the launch of an incubation facility in Kolkata, STPI aims to boost innovation, IT exports, and entrepreneurship. The facility supports startups with mentorship, infrastructure, and global networking.
The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has launched an advanced incubation facility in Salt Lake, Kolkata, West Bengal.
Last week, Jitin Prasada, the Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry and Electronics and Information Technology, officially inaugurated this new facility. According to a MeitY statement, this initiative aims to drive innovation-led entrepreneurship, enhance IT exports, and fortify the IT/ITeS/ESDM sector in West Bengal.
The Kolkata centre covers almost 18,580.6 sq. metres (200,000 sq. ft.), which includes plug-and-play office spaces and an additional 6,967.725 sq. metres (75,000 sq. ft.) of raw incubation space. It is equipped with high-speed data communication and facilities designed to support IT/ITeS startups and SMEs.
The facility is set to offer incubation and mentorship services, providing startups with industry collaboration and global networking opportunities. Furthermore, the initiative is expected to generate local employment and economic growth, both directly and indirectly.
During the inauguration, Shri Jitin Prasada highlighted India’s ambitious journey to become a global leader in technology and innovation, saying, “The inauguration of the new STPI incubation facility in Kolkata is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering innovation, nurturing startups and promoting inclusive growth across regions.”
“With vast data resources and the government’s commitment to expanding technology access beyond metropolitan cities, we are bridging the digital divide and unlocking opportunities in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities,” he noted.
“With Kolkata’s rich intellectual and creative legacy, the city has immense potential to become a hub for emerging technologies,” stated Arvind Kumar, the Director General of STPI, elaborating how the new incubation centre will provide market access to startups, enabling them to innovate in emerging fields such as AI, Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, and FinTech.
The event was graced by prominent dignitaries from the IT sector, including Shri Manjit Nayak, Director of STPI Kolkata, along with representatives from firms such as Tata Consultancy Services, Concentrix Daksh Services India Pvt Ltd, and GlobalFoundries Engineering Pvt Ltd.
STPI operates 67 centres across India, with 59 in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, promoting inclusive growth and entrepreneurship. It has 24 Centres of Entrepreneurship (CoEs) focused on sectors like HealthTech and IoT. Since 1991, STPI has supported over 1,300 startups, offering mentorship, infrastructure, and global market access.
