InFED, IIM Nagpur signs MoU with IIP, Mumbai to enable startups

IIP, Mumbai is also planning to set up a world-class state-of-the-art testing facility at its Mumbai campus in the near future

The Indian Institute of Management Nagpur (IIMN) Foundation for Entrepreneurship Development (InFED), the business incubator of IIM Nagpur has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), Mumbai an autonomous body under the aegis of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

This MoU shall enable startups incubated with InFED to have exclusive access to innovative packaging technologies developed by IIP, Mumbai.

Apart from this access to innovative packaging technologies, InFED and IIP, Mumbai will collaborate to offer one of its kind in India startup incubation in packaging. Both the organizations' endeavour to provide the benefits of their programs to the farmers of the region as well. InFED already focuses on agribusiness incubation where it has currently incubated four startups working in agriculture input, online retailing of organic mangoes, processing of fruits and superfoods.

With this collaboration InFED and IIP, Mumbai will seek to provide primary processing and packaging of agriculture produce at the farm level through a cluster–level approach, this will directly enable farmers to enter the food value chain at the retail stage. IIP, Mumbai is also planning to set up a world-class state-of-the-art testing facility at its Mumbai campus in the near future. This facility will enable startups and businesses to have access to a premier testing and validation facility.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Bhimaraya Metri, Chairman, InFED and Director, IIM Nagpur has mandated InFED to work collaboratively with IIP, Mumbai and provide maximum exposure to the incubated startups through IIP, Mumbai’s sustainable packaging technologies.

He suggested that all types of food and agriculture entrepreneurs should work towards increasing the shelf life of perishable items and bringing organic produce on the shelf for market consumption.

Dr. Shivaji Dhawad, COO, InFED said that food processing startups in the region will now have a platform to bank upon for validated packaging technology because of IIP.

Dr. Tanveer Alam, Director, IIP, Mumbai suggested that very soon, the Mumbai campus will establish an incubation centre that will provide support to startups in terms of newly developed packaging technologies that are the need of the hour. In the post – COVID era, packaging will play a critical role in establishing the trust of consumers with reference to every domain. IIP, Mumbai intends to create a huge impact on the agribusiness ecosystem in the country and is working to ensure farmer access to packaging technology knowing the plight of farmers dealing in perishable products.

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