21 October,2026 06:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at Mantralaya in Mumbai on Wednesday, seeks to widen participation in the Seva First Innovation Challenge, which encourages technology-based solutions to social problems. PIC/X
With rural entrepreneurs often facing hurdles in accessing technology, business guidance and markets, a new agreement involving Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University and an industry-backed incubation council aims to help young innovators across the state develop their ideas into viable ventures.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at Mantralaya in Mumbai on Wednesday, seeks to widen participation in the Seva First Innovation Challenge, which encourages technology-based solutions to social problems.
The initiative will focus on students, aspiring entrepreneurs and startups, particularly those from rural and semi-urban areas.
The agreement brings together Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University, Gaav Tithe Udyogak Incubation Council (GTUIC) and the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA). The aim is to connect young innovators with industry and provide selected participants with expert guidance and technical assistance.
Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Maharashtra's Minister for Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, said the collaboration would help young people turn their ideas into business ventures.
"Through this agreement, we will work towards providing the right direction to innovative ideas and startups emerging among the youth of the state. Our policy is to bring together talented young people from rural and semi-urban areas, connect them with the industrial sector, and help transform their creativity into viable business ventures. This collaboration will further strengthen Maharashtra's entrepreneurial ecosystem," Lodha stated.
The Maharashtra government said outreach efforts would target students from colleges, universities, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics to encourage more participation in the Seva First Innovation Challenge. Selected innovators and startups are expected to receive expert guidance, technical support and a platform to develop their ideas.
"The objective is to develop young people into capable entrepreneurs rather than limiting their opportunities to employment alone," Lodha said.
Ravindra Mangave, chairman of GTUIC, said young people, women and local artisans in rural areas often have business ideas but struggle to access capital, technology, markets, professional guidance and information about government schemes.
GTUIC aims to address these gaps by providing business guidance and supporting entrepreneurship at the village, district and state levels. Mangave said the organisation was working across all 36 districts of Maharashtra in a phased manner to promote business development and employment generation. He also stated that GTUIC would support the Seva First Innovation Challenge.
The agreement was signed by Manisha Verma, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Dr Apurva Palkar, Vice-Chancellor of Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University; and Mangave.
The MoU was signed in Lodha's presence. Other officials and representatives present included Ashish Pednekar, Karunakar Shetty, Shivaji Mankar, Shikhar Jain, Rameshwar Pawar, Suresh Ghorpade, Annasaheb Patil, Diwakar Keskar, advocate Richa Pathak, Akshata Bhambale, Vishal Bandgar and Jitu Chavan.
The announcement did not specify the number of participants expected to benefit, the funding allocated to the initiative or a timeline for providing support to selected innovators.
