New Delhi: The Atal Innovation Mission, in partnership with CSIRO, Australia, is now accepting applications from start-ups and MSMEs in India and Australia for the Climate Smart Agritech cohort of the India-Australia Rapid Innovation and Start-up Expansion (RISE) Accelerator. This initiative aims to support businesses seeking international expansion between the two countries, marking a significant step in addressing shared challenges in the agriculture sector.
Set to begin in October 2024, the Climate Smart Agritech cohort will focus on start-ups and MSMEs that offer technologies and solutions to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience in the face of increasing climate variability, resource scarcity, and food insecurity.
The program is particularly interested in solutions that prioritise the needs of farmers, addressing their specific priorities and on-farm practices.
Launched in 2023, the RISE Accelerator program has played a crucial role in helping start-ups and MSMEs validate, adapt, and pilot their technologies in new markets. With the introduction of the Climate Smart Agritech cohort, the focus now shifts to agritech solutions that address environmental challenges and improve productivity.
Tamara Ogilvie, Program Director at CSIRO, emphasised the shared agricultural challenges between India and Australia, noting, "This cohort will enable participants to achieve product-market fit in diverse markets and rapidly scale their solutions to meet global demands."
Over the nine-month program, selected start-ups and MSMEs will benefit from a combination of self-paced online learning and in-person sessions, including immersion weeks in both India and Australia. These sessions will provide deep market insights, personalised coaching, and mentorship from industry experts, as well as opportunities to connect with potential partners and customers.
The latter half of the program will also involve field trials and technology pilots.
Pramit Dash, Program Lead at AIM, highlighted the program's significance, stating, "By fostering innovation and providing a platform for start-ups to scale their solutions, the RISE Accelerator program not only addresses immediate challenges in the agriculture sector but also ensures that farmers can adopt resilient practices tailored to their specific needs."
The latest round of the RISE Accelerator seeks innovative solutions to critical agricultural challenges, including boosting productivity, reducing emissions, and optimising natural resource use.
Applications for the RISE Accelerator close on 15 September 2024. Participation in the program is free, and selected start-ups and SMEs may be eligible for up to INR 45 lakhs in non-equity grants, along with opportunities to travel between Australia and India.
For more information and to apply, please visit RISE Accelerator. An Info and Q&A session will be held on 28 August 2024.
The India-Australia Rapid Innovation and Start-up Expansion (RISE) Accelerator is a bilateral program led by CSIRO and the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog. The program addresses shared environmental and climate challenges between India and Australia by supporting the expansion of innovative agritech solutions across borders. /BI
