Women Scientists and Technologists Say Hello to Entrepreneurship with EDII
Technological brains garner skills to establish knowledge based enterprise
It is now widely accepted that women make promising managers. Slowly but steadily women are also emerging strong in the field of science and technology. Innovative business ideas need support from science and technology to survive and sustain in the global market. Thus the unprecedented need for entrepreneurs with sound technical knowledge has emerged in the recent times. EDII thought that women with sound technical knowledge can make the most of opportunity and that is why launched a five-day national programme on Entrepreneurship Development & Management for Women Scientists & Technologists working with the government sector.
The programme conducted during 2 to 6 February this year, received overwhelming response from the participants. 14 women scientists and technologists working in various departments and ministries of Central Government, Public Sector Units and Research institutes supported by Central or State Government participated in the programme. Some academicians engaged in R&D also registered for the programme. The programme was sponsored by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. The chief aim of the programme was to sensitize women scientists and technologists towards embracing entrepreneurship as career.
Till now, there is little done in the area of knowledge based entrepreneurship. This programme helped the participants understand the importance of owning knowledge based innovative business ventures. The curriculum covered core aspects of entrepreneurship such as process of business idea generation, project formulation and screening for feasibility.
It has been observed that even if women have basic knowledge of entrepreneurship, they are unable to identify and develop market for this. Though there are national and international institutions that support these kinds of endeavours, women hardly have information about these institutions. The participants received all the necessary information about garnering support from such institutions.
The scientists and researchers also learned about how to use basic and applied research as a tool for business planning.
The participants were very happy to garner skills of identifying business opportunities. One of the participants shared her experience by saying, “I never knew that I can be an entrepreneur. Now that I have learned about new enterprise creation, business plan preparation and everything about establishing and managing a new enterprise, I am sure I am going to come up with my own knowledge based enterprise.” The curriculum also touched upon gender issues at the workplace.
The programme was conducted by Mr. P. Ganesh, Associate Senior Faculty at EDII. The programme included intensive group discussions, role plays, and simulation exercises hence demanded constant involvement from the participants. The Course Director Mr. P. Ganesh expressing his contentment said, “I used audio-visual medium to make participants understand key issues of entrepreneurship development and management. The participants also got an opportunity to interact with subject experts and successful entrepreneurs.” Towards the end of the programme, the participants were motivated to establish their own knowledge based enterprise. The programme supported institute’s belief that women empowerment is essential to bring much needed change in society.