Entrepreneurship Development Cell

Origin of EDCs:

The academic institutions play an important role in the economic development of a country as
they produce the right type of manpower needed by different sectors of the society. The
technical institutions and institutions of higher learning assume greater importance as these
produce the technical manpower needed by the industry and R & D institutions. In order to
make optimal use of facilities, expertise and know-how available in these institutions for the
benefit of the society, it is necessary that appropriate links are established between the
institutes of higher learning and the industry.
In order to have better interaction and linkage between Industries and Universities, higher
learning institutions, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India, formed a
board, NSTEDB, in the year 1982 which formulated several mechanisms like STEP (Science
and Technology Entrepreneurs Park), EDC (Entrepreneurship Development Cells), TBI
(Technology Business Incubators) and these mechanisms to be tried out in technical institutions
across the country.
Functions of IEDCs:
1. To organise Entrepreneurship Awareness Camps, Entrepreneurship Development
Programmes, Faculty Development Programmes and Skill Development Programmes
in the college/institutions.
2. To initiate five innovative student projects each year for new innovative product
development.
3. To organize Business Plan Competitions every year.
4. To guide and assist prospective entrepreneurs on various aspects such as preparing
project reports, obtaining project approvals, loans and facilities from agencies of
support system, information on technologies, etc.
5. To arrange interaction with entrepreneurs and create a mentorship scheme for
student entrepreneurs.
6. To facilitate creation of entrepreneur's club in each college to foster culture of
entrepreneurship amongst students
7. To act as a Regional Information Centre on business opportunities, processes,
technologies, market, etc. by creating and maintaining relevant data bases.

8. IEDCs would also sensitise the management of the institutions regarding the
importance of entrepreneurship and integrate their activities with the Host
Institutions.

Objectives of the IEDCs:

1. To act as an institutional mechanism for providing various services including
information on all aspects of enterprise building to budding S&T entrepreneurs.
2. To create Entrepreneurial culture in the Parent Institution and other institutions in
the region and to promote the objectives of NSTEDB, including programmes related
to women and weaker sections of the society.
3. To inculcate a culture of innovation driven entrepreneurship through student
projects.
4. To catalyse and promote development of S&T knowledge-based enterprises and
promote employment opportunities in the innovative areas.
5. To respond effectively to the emerging challenges and opportunities both at national
and international level relating to SMEs and micro enterprises.
Criteria to Set up an IEDC for an Institution (Engineering College or IIT)
The sponsoring/parent institution should fulfill the following criteria:
1. The institution should be a University/deemed to be University or a premier
Institute/College offering Engineering, Technology, Science & Management courses at
degree level or above for at least 5 years. In case of a college/institute, it should be
duly recognised and affiliated and while in case of the private institutions, it should
be promoted by a Trust or a Society registered under relevant Acts besides being
recognized/affiliated to AICTE/Universities.
2. Qualified and dedicated faculty in various disciplines with a good Research &
Development base and background in industry related activities.

3. Adequate space for locating the Cell including the modifications proposed to be
carried out in the building, availability of utilities like electricity, water, telephone
installation and internet connectivity.
4. Availability of workshops, laboratories and computational facilities.
5. Library with a good collection of books and journals.
6. Experience in Entrepreneurship Development and Promotion and Industry related
activities such as Consultancy, Product Development, Testing, Calibration, etc.

1. Tension test on Steel bar

2. Bending test on (Steel / Wood) Cantilever beam.
3. Bending test on simple support beam.
4. Torsion test
5. Hardness test
6. Spring test
7. Compression test on wood or concrete
8. Impact test
9. Shear test
10. Verification of Maxwells Reciprocal theorem on beams.
11. Use of Electrical resistance strain gauges
12. Continuous beam -deflection test.