Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Srinagar, Jan 29: The Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship (SKIIE) Centre of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has been conferred with the prestigious ‘Incubator of the Year’ award under the Jammu and Kashmir Startup Policy at the Annual JK Startup Mela held in Jammu on Wednesday.
The award was presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the presence of Advisor to the Chief Minister (Cabinet Minister status) Nasir Aslam Sogami, Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce Vikramjit Singh, senior officials of the Industries and Commerce Department, and dignitaries from the startup ecosystem. The event was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI).
The recognition follows a rigorous evaluation by a government-appointed committee, which assessed incubation centres across the Union Territory on parameters such as innovation outcomes, patent generation, startup performance, sustainability, governance standards, mentorship quality, industry linkages, and overall socio-economic impact. The committee commended the SKIIE Centre for its targeted support to high-impact and disruptive startups, particularly in agri-tech, artificial intelligence, deep-tech, food processing, biotechnology, and rural enterprises, backed by a strong mentor network and effective facilitation of market and investment access.
The award was received by Naveed Hamid, Chief Executive Officer of the SKIIE Centre, and includes a Certificate of Excellence, ₹50,000 in award money, and a ₹50 lakh capital seed fund to further strengthen incubation and entrepreneurship activities at the Centre.
In another significant boost to SKUAST-K’s startup ecosystem, four startups incubated and mentored at the university were sanctioned seed grants of ₹20 lakh each, amounting to a total funding of ₹80 lakh. The beneficiaries include M/s Cashmircarbozone Pvt. Ltd. (founded by Owais Al Wani), M/s Alhamdan Crafts Pvt. Ltd. (founded by Tahir Kalwal), M/s Safavi Organics LLP (founded by Syed Saqib), and M/s Innxu Innotech (founded by Sheikh Zubair). The grants are intended to support product development, validation, and early-stage market entry.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai congratulated the SKIIE team, describing the award as a reflection of the vision, dedication, and collaborative efforts of the incubation team, faculty mentors, and student innovators. He termed the SKIIE Centre a hub of opportunity for young entrepreneurs and urged the team to leverage the recognition to achieve national and global visibility. He also lauded Prof. Haroon R. Naik, Director Planning & Monitoring/Research, and CEO Naveed Hamid along with their team for the achievement.
Expressing gratitude, Prof. Haroon Rashid Naik said the honour underscores the credibility and growing impact of SKUAST-K’s incubation initiatives and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to expanding support systems and strengthening partnerships to help startups scale and create sustainable local impact.
The recognition by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir further cements SKUAST-K’s position as a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture and allied sectors. The SKIIE Centre plans to utilise the award and seed support to expand incubation capacity, deepen industry collaborations, and enhance outreach across Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on developing scalable solutions to regional agricultural and rural challenges—aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
