About VSCIC

what is vscic?

The VSCIC is envisaged as a platform to institutionalize efforts of the Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC) and UNICEF office of Gujarat to identify, nurture and promote innovations by children

In January 2020, UNICEF and Gujarat University signed a Letter of Understanding to set up the Vikram Sarabhai Children Innovation Centre (VSCIC).

partners

about Gujarat university

Established in 1949 under the Gujarat University Act, the Gujarat University is the largest and oldest university of the Gujarat state. The idea of setting up the university conceived in the 1940s and the seed of inceptions was laid down by Shri Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel under the chairmanship of Mr G. B. Mavlankar in consultation with Mr Kasaturbhai Lalbhai and Acharya Anand Shankar Dhruv. Gujarat University is affiliating university, having more than 350 affiliated colleges, 35 post-graduate departments and more than 50 affiliated post-graduate centres with diversified courses in faculties of 1. Arts, 2. Commerce 3. Science 4. Education 5. Law 6. Medical and 7. Dental. Starting with the only university in the region during the erstwhile Bombay Province, at present, almost over a dozen universities of the state have evolved from Gujarat University. The glory of the university is reflected in some of the eminent alumni like Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Shri Narendra Modi (Prime Minister, India), Dr. K. Kasturirangan (Former Chairman, ISRO), Dr. Ila Bhatt (SEVA), Justice Ahmedi (Former Chief Justice of India), Mr. Pankaj Patel (CEO, Zydus Cadila), Mr. Kharekwala (Wockhardt), Dr. Ravindra Dave (Former Chairman, UNESCO) and many others. As the paradigm shift in social political and economic policies took place from the early nineties, the university has maintained pace with the changes by introducing and a number of programmes in emerging inter-intradisciplinary areas with promising employment opportunities which geared the evolving needs of the society at large.

about UNICEF

UNICEF India is committed in its continued support to the Government in this extraordinary journey of development to reach every child everywhere in India. Their goal is to enable every child born in India to have the best start in life, to thrive and to develop to her or his full potential. To achieve this they use technical expertise together with partners to tackle the root of several, deeply entrenched structural challenges. UNICEF have been present in India for over 70 years. UNICEFs key strength lies in our evidence-based technical expertise that informs policy action and implementation, while at the same time building the capacity of partners. With some 450 staff members working in 17 states that together cover 90 per cent of India’s child population – largest field presence among UN agencies – they are well positioned to reach the country’s most vulnerable children. UNICEF believes that all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world. Globally UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

about YuWaah

In 2018, UNICEF initiated the global Generation Unlimited partnership to meet the urgent needs of expanding education, skill development and employment opportunities for young people across the world. Within the overall Sustainable Development Goals framework, and the new UN Youth Policy 2030, Generation Unlimited provides an agenda that is universal in nature – all countries can and must do more to support the education, skills, and empowerment of youth. The India chapter of Generation Unlimited – YuWaah – was born in 2019. At the core of YuWaah is the willingness and capacity to meaningfully engage and listen to young people’s needs, ideas and aspirations. By focusing on engagement, learning, skill development and employment of young people, YuWaah aims to support a generation of empowered, young change makers in India. Envisaged as a strategic, long-term initiative, YuWaah will serve as the much-needed bridge between solution providers, private sector, Government of India, academia and civil society organizations to fund and scale-up innovative and effective solutions.

about GUSEC

GUSEC is an early stage, zero-day, zero-cost, startup support system with a mission to convert 1% of 1.5 million higher education students in the Gujarat region into entrepreneurs, building economic and growth value from within a university ecosystem. GUSEC’s vision is to give an accelerated platform to idea-level entrepreneurs and support them with the necessary resources and mentorship to build real value from their current ideas. Incorporated as a section 8(a) not-for-profit company, governed by an independent Board of Directors comprising University faculty, industry representatives, and the Vice-Chancellor as the Chair. Day-to-day operations are led by a CEO and a dedicated team. Initially funded by the University, GUSEC is backed by a NIDHI-TBI grant, alongside other state government and non-government grants. GUSEC works with a zero-day zero-cost startup support model, which puts an imperative emphasis on offering no-cost startup support, especially to the idea/early-stage startups during their pre-incubation, incubation and acceleration periods to help them experiment and grow with their ideas. This model helps them to accelerate their ideas with a build fast, break fast ideology. This is also one of the few reasons why GUSEC hosts one of the largest numbers of product startups in our current ecosystem.

about PIER

The Park for Industrial Extension and Research (PIER) is a Research Park inside the Gujarat University campus, located in the heart of Ahmedabad – a booming centre of industry and academic excellence. Gujarat University is the oldest university of the state, established in 1949, and the state of Gujarat is known for its spirit and culture of entrepreneurship. No other state embodies entrepreneurship and industrial excellence like Gujarat does. The Research Park is being established with a financial assistance from the state government of Gujarat, with the aim of bolstering academic-industry collaborations and partnerships. PIER will house industrial research labs, units, centres and teams and facilitate a long-term partnership of these industry partners with the University’s active, evergrowing research and academic fraternity, giving a boost to both the industrial research and academic excellence. Envisioned as a global hub for industrial research, academic-industry collaboration and innovation, the PIER shall be the first of its kind research and innovation park in the country, and the first for any university in the country.

about AIC GUSEC

An Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) established under the Atal Innovation Mission (NITI Aayog, Government of India), AIC GUSEC aspires to become an agent of transformation and empowerment by identifying and supporting ideas with impact. It offers a collaborative, no-cost incubation program to for-profit social enterprises and works extensively with public governance bodies, international developmental organisations, non-profit organisations, impact investors and other civil-society stakeholders. Promoted by Gujarat’s oldest and the largest University, Gujarat University, the institution boasts a rich culture of research and societal impact. The network of the University in all demographies of the state also plays an effective role in bringing the innovations happening in remote parts to come to the organised culture. Established in the Park for Industrial Extension and Research (PIER) at Gujarat University, the institution operates in state-of-the-art infrastructure.

about vscic