What Holds Chandigarh / The Tri City from becoming a Hub for Knowledge / Technology / Innovation / Start Ups

What Holds Chandigarh / The Tri City from Becoming a Hub for Technology / Innovation / Start Ups.

                                                                                                                           Dinesh K Kapila

(In an Edited Form on Times of India - Chandigarh Edition of 19th October 2018, they sought views)

There has been a rapid scaling up of eminent institutes being located in the Tri City area (Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali), at one level, the city does mirror developments at the major cities. However if the sheer scale of commercial activity and start ups is observed nationally, we do rank lower. There is always scope for improvement but here the gap between the potential and actual level does seem  substantial, though only domain experts may know the facts. But the sheer energy and drive and enthusiasm of a certain geographical entity on the move is certainly missing. The factors could as follows, these may be based on anecdotal discussions or otherwise, the objective is only to enable a discussion -

1.      Administrative – The Chandigarh UT is governed by essentially bureaucrats from the GoI while Mohali and Panchkula are governed overall by their respective State Governments. A certain unity of purpose and vision is required as also coordination to drive forward knowledge, Innovation and Technology, ultimately leading to Start Ups and Commercialisation. The growth driver has to be business ultimately. Secondly, what vision do the Municipal Corporations and the local leaders have for the future, they have to articulate their vision and generate the impetus and share it with each other. Then the focus for Panchkula is a gray area, the NCR by virtue of it’s sheer commercial levels and mass absorbs the attention and focus of the stakeholders. However a small counter weight would be beneficial for the entire region and the hinterland. 

2.      Technological Institutes Certainly but Competence and Employability – Thirty odd Engineering Colleges have been listed. But what is the employability of the students, more important the profile of the faculty. Even from the leading university here, how much is the local faculty updated and involved in research and applied research and it’s commercialization. A comparision with South and Western India is necessary to draw lessons.  The ISB is a major plus, but how many passouts are absorbed within this area, or would like to be absorbed here, that is the moot point. That will draw talent and generate the push. The present focus, as evident from the profile at the airport or railway station, is for regular jobs or employment in start ups NOIDA, Gurgaon and Bengaluru etc. An impatience with the status quo in this region must be there among the young pass outs as they graduate to becoming potential entrepreneurs. But with deep domain  knowledge and financial awareness and ability to crunch numbers.

3.       Corporate Offices – Any city would require Business Offices to have their offices located here, to generate that certain employability and knowledge. It generates a certain level of knowledge and spin offs as other groups then absorb the same by employees setting up their own ventures or changing jobs. The Tri City has mainly Regional or Branch Offices, many Companies on evolving have relocated to Delhi or Gurgaon. Or they are comfortable with the levels they are operating at.   Plus talent has to be valued and accorded that respect and operating freedom. Ultimately talent within the city, embedded within corporates, will be the driving force.

4.      Financial Knowledge – The switch to Start Ups by transfer of Knowledge is never smooth unless the potential entrepreneur has done a deep study of the market he addresses. It’s linkages and the value chain and what different he brings to the funder. The ability to crunch numbers is vital and coupled with what can be scaled up to in a certain time period. The knowledge of the funding agencies addressing the financing needs of particular sectors and sub sectors and their requirements and conditionalities is important. It’s also an issue of perception, as of now the Tri City is not really known for innovation or Technology or Start ups but rather for more mundane run of the mill businesses and industries. This perception amongst the funding agencies. Mentors, knowledge owners and bankers will take time to change but is certainly a barrier as of now.

5.      Logistics and Infrastructure – The airport has been relocated, atleast the Passenger Terminal but where are the plans for warehouses or cold chains or storage. Primarily in it’s vicinity. The same applies to railways. Baddi is even now not connected by railways.  This impacts deeply, as cargo movement, specially of sensitive goods and perishables is then a concern. And in turn impacts investments.

6.      Associations and Discussion Groups – One is the discussions generated by the Times of India, it is laudable. Or the odd seminar by a Government Department. But ultimately the discussion groups of private bodies and individuals and corporates will matter in exchanging views, technology, developments and generating new ideas. The tendency to have a one off function has to be given the go by and replaced by continuous dialogues, and most important, in a culture of respect and recognition  of the value of knowledge. This culture has to develop amongst the young specially. Nurtured by mentors and associations. Association should not be parking bays for the retired but active on commercial applications and technology and finance.     

7.      Law and Order and Peace and Respect for the Entrepreneur – The law and order is quite satisfactory but even now remains in some manner feudalistic. The tendency of certain headlines in the media which sort of indicate that the orientation of a section of the masses or some leaders is primarily on some other issues may also impact investments.  Then the entrepreneur needs respect and recognition, this is a region still in the thrall of the one who administers.   It should happen but could take time to evolve.

The discussions on the above may enable a coordinated actionable vision to evolve. 

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