Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 3: The Indian Institute of Management Jammu hosted the DST iTBI Ignition Fest 2026, organized under the aegis of the DST iTBI at IIM Jammu.
The event brought together promising innovators from across the country to present research-driven and scalable ventures before an eminent Governing Board comprising senior representatives from the Government of India, national research institutions, banking leadership, intellectual property experts, and industry bodies.
Following a rigorous multi-stage screening process, 18 high-potential startups were shortlisted to pitch for the prestigious DST iTBI Ignition Grant, which offers grant support of up to Rs 50 lakh to selected incubatees. The shortlisted ventures demonstrated strong technological depth, commercialization readiness, scalability potential, and measurable societal impact.
Each startup was evaluated on clearly defined parameters, including innovation quotient, intellectual property strength, market validation, financial sustainability, scalability, and alignment with national development priorities.
The evaluation was conducted under the guidance of the DST iTBI IIM Jammu Governing Board, chaired by Prof B S Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu. Prof Jabir Ali, Dean of Faculty and Research at IIM Jammu, also graced the Governing Body meeting of DST iTBI IIM Jammu following the selection rounds.
The Board comprised Dr Anil Wali, CEO, BITS BioCyTiH Foundation; Dr Muqbil Burhan, Principal Investigator & Chairperson, Centre for Entrepreneurship Innovation & Skill Development, IIM Jammu; Shardul Rao, Scientist, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India; Dr Saurabh Saran, Principal Investigator, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine – IIIM Technology Business Incubator; Dr Reema Mediratta, Scientist, Indian Council of Medical Research; Nidhi Jamwal, Assistant General Manager & Cluster Head, Jammu & Kashmir Bank; Rakesh Wazir, Chairman, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Jammu Region Chapter); and Dr Vivek Sharma, Chief Innovation Officer, IIM Jammu.
The Ignition Fest served not only as a competitive evaluation platform but also as a strategic mentoring forum, providing founders with constructive feedback to refine their business models and strengthen market-entry strategies.
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