Srinagar: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), in collaboration with the IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP), on Monday organised ‘Spark Social’, an outreach seminar under the 14th Tata Social Enterprise Challenge (TSEC) 2026 to promote social entrepreneurship among students, researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Held at the university’s Shalimar campus, the programme focused on encouraging participants to develop scalable enterprises addressing social challenges.
Vice Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai said innovation and entrepreneurship have become integral to higher education and urged young innovators to develop solutions to societal problems while contributing to socio-economic development in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the university would continue supporting startups through incubation, mentorship and industry linkages.
Assistant Vice President (Incubation), IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, Soujit Das, outlined the Tata Social Enterprise Challenge, explaining the application process and the incubation, mentorship, investor networking and funding support available to selected ventures.
The seminar also featured a technical session by social entrepreneur and Pietbillo Solutions Pvt Ltd Chief Executive Officer Dr Shuvendu Prasad Roy on developing sustainable and impact-driven business models.
Earlier, SKIIE Chief Executive Officer Naveed Hamid said the university was working to build an innovation-driven ecosystem that encourages young people to become entrepreneurs.
The programme concluded with a pitching session in which aspiring entrepreneurs presented their business ideas before experts from IIMCIP and SKIIE, who provided feedback and mentoring to help refine their proposals.
