<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif"><b>GANGTOK,: </b>The Commerce and Industries Department, in collaboration with the SEED
Cell, is set to organise the first edition of 'Sikkim RISE – Realising Ideas,
Shaping Entrepreneurship', a flagship programme under Sikkim INSPIRES aimed at
fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the State.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Addressing
a press conference here on Monday, Commerce and Industries Minister T.T. Bhutia
said the department has initiated a major effort to build a vibrant innovation
and startup ecosystem in Sikkim.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">"The
Government of Sikkim is working towards creating an enabling environment where
innovation, entrepreneurship and enterprise can flourish. Under the Sikkim
INSPIRES Programme, the Commerce and Industries Department is implementing a
comprehensive strategy to promote entrepreneurship, nurture innovation and
generate sustainable livelihood opportunities across the State," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Referring
to the Sikkim Startup Policy, 2025, the Minister said the government is not
merely supporting individual startups but is developing a complete startup
ecosystem that will provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the infrastructure,
mentorship, institutional support and policy framework required to build
successful enterprises.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">As
part of this initiative, the department is establishing the State Innovation
Hub at Udyog Bhavan, Gangtok, along with four incubation centres across the
State.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Bhutia
informed that two incubation centres are already operational at the Advanced
Technical Training Centre (ATTC), Bardang, and the Centre for Computers and
Communication Technology (CCCT), Chisopani. Incubation services were formally
launched on March 14, 2026, and are now available through these centres as well
as the State Innovation Hub.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">He
said these institutions have been established as a single platform to provide
both fiscal and non-fiscal incentives envisaged under the Sikkim Startup Policy
while offering end-to-end support, including idea validation, mentoring,
incubation, market linkages, investor connect and business growth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">As
part of this larger vision, the department is organising Sikkim RISE –
Realising Ideas, Shaping Entrepreneurship, a State-level Ideathon and Startup
Talent Hunt.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">According
to the Minister, Sikkim RISE is much more than a competition. It is a platform
to identify talent, encourage innovation, mentor aspiring entrepreneurs and
support startups with the potential to generate employment and contribute to
the State's economy. He added that the initiative has knowledge partners,
including IIM Calcutta, the SEED Cell and other institutions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The
initiative has been designed in alignment with the objectives of the Startup
India Mission and seeks to strengthen Sikkim's entrepreneurial ecosystem by
supporting innovators at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Bhutia
said the response to the first-of-its-kind district and State-level Ideathon
has been highly encouraging. Applications were invited from aspiring youth and
women entrepreneurs from all districts of Sikkim, with the application process
concluding on June 30, 2026.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The
competition will enter its district-level phase from July 14 at Soreng before
being held across all districts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The
competition has been divided into three categories - Ideation Stage for
innovative business ideas, Prototype Stage for ventures with validated concepts
or prototypes, and Revenue Stage for startups that have already commenced
commercial operations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">District-level
winners will compete at the State Grand Finale in Gangtok on August 21, 2026,
coinciding with World Entrepreneurs' Day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">To
encourage innovation, the winner in each of the three categories will receive a
cash prize of Rs. 10 lakh, while two runners-up in each category will receive
Rs. 5 lakh each. Winners will also be provided national-level exposure visits
and opportunities to participate in pitching events. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The
Minister added that DPIIT and Startup India are also extending support to
startups under the initiative. He shared that the grand finale is envisioned as
a landmark celebration of entrepreneurship in Sikkim, bringing together
aspiring entrepreneurs, successful startup founders, investors, mentors,
industry leaders and policymakers on a single platform. The State government
aims to develop Sikkim RISE into a flagship annual entrepreneurship initiative
for the North Eastern Region, he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Encouraging
youth, women entrepreneurs, educational institutions, industry stakeholders and
the people of Sikkim to actively support the initiative, the Minister said
entrepreneurship is not merely about starting businesses but about creating
opportunities, solving local challenges and building a resilient and
self-reliant economy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">He
said Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang-Golay has envisioned "One Family,
One Entrepreneurship" and that Sikkim RISE is intended to help realise
that vision. He also expressed confidence that the initiative would contribute
towards the goal of making Sikkim "Sunaulo, Samriddh and Samarth."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">Earlier,
Commerce and Industries Secretary Karma D. Youtso informed that, as the grand
finale coincides with World Entrepreneurs' Day, the Chief Minister has
announced that the day will be observed as Udhyami Bharosa Sammelan. The finale
of Sikkim RISE will be attended by the Chief Minister as the chief guest.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Bookman Old Style",serif">The
press conference was also addressed by SEED Cell General Secretary-cum-OSD,
Commerce and Industries Department, Dipen Subba. Officers of the Commerce and
Industries Department, SEED Cell president Raj Lama and other office-bearers of
the SEED Cell were also present.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
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