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.