Chandigarh, 20 August (APAC Media): The Punjab government has signed an agreement with the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) to establish Startup Punjab Hub–Neuron 2.0.
Established at a cost of Rs 29 Crore, Neuron 2.0 will serve as an incubation centre at STPI Mohali. The initiative aims to strengthen Punjab’s start-up ecosystem, with a special focus on cybersecurity and next-generation technologies.
Boosting Startup Support
The facility will support start-ups working in artificial intelligence, data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity and audio-visual graphics. Entrepreneurs will receive incubation, mentoring, specialised infrastructure and opportunities to connect with industry leaders and investors.
Investment and Skill Development Push
The project will receive Rs 12 crore in in-principle support from the Punjab government, while STPI will contribute Rs 17 crore. Over the next five years, the centre aims to incubate 50 start-ups and train around 2,000 professionals through structured programmes.
Focus on Cybersecurity
A dedicated cybersecurity laboratory will be a major component of Neuron 2.0, enabling start-ups to undertake product development, testing and experimentation using specialised infrastructure. Training programmes will be offered at foundation, intermediate and expert levels, with students from government and government-aided schools and colleges also expected to benefit.
Building on the Success of Neuron
Neuron 2.0 is an upgraded version of Punjab’s earlier Neuron initiative, which supported 114 technology start-ups and generated nearly 2,700 jobs. According to figures cited by the state government, these start-ups attracted around Rs 251 crore in investments and achieved a combined valuation of approximately Rs 2,890 crore.
Under the new partnership, STPI will operate and manage the facility and cybersecurity laboratory. It will also organise hackathons, bootcamps, outreach programmes, investor connect events, and technology and skills development initiatives.
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