Kerala Startup Mission Signs MoU with BPCL

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala Startup Mission, the state government’s nodal agency for promoting entrepreneurship, today signed an MoU with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) to provide aid and investments in start-ups from various technology domains.
The MoU aims to spur the state government’s efforts and derive long-term benefits from start-ups. BPCL will provide financial support and exclusive access for start-ups to the company’s R&D facilities, expertise and network.
BPCL General Manager (Strategy) Aravind Krishnaswamy and Kerala Startup Mission CEO Dr Saji Gopinath signed the MoU in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary Paul Antony and Electronics and IT Secretary M Sivashankar at a function at the Mascot Hotel. The MoU is for two years.
“Startup entrepreneurs and students in the state are driven by good ideas, but face a dearth of business models,” said Shri Sivashankar. “The backing that they receive from trade and industry is a great source of encouragement for them.”
Kerala Startup Mission will identify and work on ideas with start-ups, shortlist and curate a selection with which technology companies can work, said Dr Saji. The selected start-ups can use the technical facilities and domain expertise offered by the industry.
“BPCL will utilise selected products from start-ups on chargeabl
e basis in its business verticals,” said Shri Aravind. “BPCL will also conduct workshops to promote start-up culture.”
Also present at the function were ICFOSS Director Dr Jaishankar Prasad, BPCL Business Development Executive Director Pramod Sharma, and BPCL Kochi Refinery Executive Director Prasad Panicker.
Suhail of Tranzmeo, a start-up for petroleum piping solutions, and Manjunath, of waste management solution start-up Renow, made presentations at the function.