Performance of NSTEDB 

Introduction

The Government has made assessments on the performance of the National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) which was set up in 1982 in the Department of Science & Technology (DST). The details of the assessments carried out on the performance of NSTEDB are given below: 

The first assessment on working of NSTEDB was carried out by an Evaluation Committee, chaired by Shri T.N. Seshan. The committee submitted its report in 1988, which emphasized the continuation of an exclusive Board (NSTEDB) to promote entrepreneurship among the Science and Technology persons in the country and also concluded that NSTEDB should be located in the DST. It further recommended for provision of adequate staff & funds to NSTEDB in order to fulfill its objectives in a much better fashion. It also highlighted that at the moment the activity is sub-critical. 

The second assessment on NSTEDB performance and its impact on Entrepreneurship development, Employment generation and Technology Transfer was carried out by the National Council of Applied Economic Research in 1998. The key outcome of the study was that Social cost benefit analysis of the NSTEDB programs revealed a high social yield (social IRR). It also recommended that NSTEDBshould enhance and expand its catalytic role. It further emphasized the need to fine tune the programmes on knowledge and awareness spread, incubation and support facilities for entrepreneurs and to increase the coverage of NSTEDB schemes across the country. 

Recently the evaluation of NSTEDB performance and its achievement during the XI Plan was carried out in 2013 by a Committee Chaired by Prof. S.K. Joshi. The committee recommended NSTEDB to continue all the ongoing programmes on innovation, entrepreneurship promotion and incubation development in the 12th plan period. Committee also recommended NSTEDB to Expand the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) network substantially in the country through competitive support model, participation of the State Governments and appropriate Public-Public and Public-Private partnerships. The committee recommended for a new program to be initiated on innovation – Science & TechnologyEntrepreneurship Development (i-STED) to address the challenges associated with a specific region/industry/cluster by connecting interventions of S & T and innovative solutions with entrepreneurial opportunities. 

In addition, various programmes and activities of NSTEDB are monitored annually by the programme specific Expert Advisory Committees set up by the Department. 

The NSTEDB does not conduct training programs directly but supports institutions engaged in entrepreneurship development for conducting such programs. The training programs conducted through various agencies in last three years are Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP), Technology Based Entrepreneurship Development Programme (TEDP), Faculty Development Programme (FDP), Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WEDP) and Entrepreneurship Awareness Camps (EACs). The EDP aims at training predominantly S&T graduates and the diploma holders in the essentials of conceiving, planning, initiating and launching an economic activity or an enterprise. Technology Based Entrepreneurship Development Programme (TEDP) primarily focuses on training degree/diploma holders in Science and Technology (S&T) in a specific technology area. In the TEDP participants are also provided with hands-on training in indigenous technologies developed by R&D institutions that are available for commercial exploitation. Faculty Development Programmes is designed to train and develop professionals and faculty in entrepreneurship development so that they can act as resource persons in guiding and motivating young S&T persons to take up entrepreneurship as a career. Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme is to encourage potential and existing women entrepreneurs to come forward, learn, establish and become self-reliant. 

Various outside agencies have been entrusted to conduct such training programs. These training programs are conducted by agencies such as National institutes viz. National Institute for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises; Entrepreneurship Development Institutes, Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology; State Institutes of Entrepreneurship Development, Academic institutes, Technical Consultancy Organization (TCO), Non-Government Organizations and industry associations. While assigning these programs, organizational track record, performance of the organization in past programs, resources available, domain expertise etc. are considered by an external expert committee approved by the Department of Science and Technology. For conducting these training programs, an amount of Rs.884.36 lakh in 2011-12; Rs.926.06 lakh in 2012-13; Rs.894.70 lakh in 2013-14 had been sanctioned. 

This was stated by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Ministry of Earth Sciences (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply in LokSabha today.

Source

Press Information Bureau, August 13, 2014