Campus Times | Lucknow 

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, organised a field and exposure visit for its students under Navkalpana – BBAU Foundation for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, offering them an opportunity to gain first-hand insights into the functioning of an incubation ecosystem and the process of transforming innovative ideas into entrepreneurial ventures.

The programme, centred on the theme Entrepreneurship and Start-up, was organised in collaboration with the Institutions Innovation Council (IIC), Department of Statistics and the Centre for Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (CIIE). The initiative was conducted under the guidance and direction of University Vice Chancellor Prof. Raj Kumar Mittal.

The exposure visit was designed to take students beyond conventional classroom learning and acquaint them with the practical dimensions of entrepreneurship, innovation and startup development. During the interaction, students gained an understanding of how incubation facilities support emerging entrepreneurs through guidance, mentoring and an enabling environment for developing ideas into viable ventures.

Addressing the students, Prof. Manoj Joshi, Consultant, Navkalpana, Prof. Naveen Kumar Arora, Chairman, IIC and CIIE, and Prof. Surinder Kumar, Dean, School of Physical and Decision Sciences, shared their perspectives on innovation and entrepreneurship. They encouraged students to explore emerging opportunities, think creatively and develop the confidence required to pursue entrepreneurial initiatives.

Ms. Madhulika, Incubator Manager, Navkalpana, explained the objectives and role of an incubation unit and highlighted the importance of developing an entrepreneurial mindset at an early stage. She urged students to identify real-world problems, generate innovative solutions and work towards converting promising ideas into practical and sustainable startup ventures. She also underlined the significance of creativity, problem-solving abilities and opportunity identification in the entrepreneurial journey.

The programme provided students with insights into the various stages involved in developing a startup, from identifying an opportunity and refining an idea to seeking institutional support and working towards its implementation. The interaction also helped students understand the broader innovation and startup ecosystem and the role played by incubation centres in nurturing aspiring entrepreneurs.

Dr. Rahul Varshney, Programme Coordinator, said that the field visit offered students valuable practical exposure to innovation and entrepreneurship and helped bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world entrepreneurial practices. The activity, he noted, was aimed at encouraging students to explore entrepreneurship as a career option while developing their innovative and problem-solving capabilities.

The exposure visit also focused on building students confidence to pursue unconventional ideas and recognise entrepreneurship as a potential career pathway alongside traditional professional opportunities. The interaction with the incubation ecosystem served as an informative and motivating experience, encouraging students to take their innovative ideas forward with greater clarity and purpose.

Prof. Subhash Kumar Yadav, Head, Department of Statistics; Prof. Madhulika Dubey; Dr. Amit Kumar Mishra; Dr. Meenakshi Mishra; Dr. Prayas Sharma, along with faculty members, research scholars and students, were present during the programme.