Birmingham City University is collaborating with The Lala Bahadur Chand Munjal Foundation to host an event offering expert advice on launching a startup, part of a series of masterclasses before opening an innovation centre in India.
Posted 24 January 2022
Establishing a vital partnership
The two-day, online event is scheduled for Friday 28 – Saturday 29 January, from 3-5pm (IST), and is the first in a series of masterclasses that establishes BCU’s partnership with The Lala Bahadur Chand Munjal Foundation in India.
Taking place via Zoom, speaking at the event will be Birmingham City University’s Deputy-Vice Chancellor Julian Beer, Bernard Curren (Assistant Director of Enterprise) and STEAMhouse Incubator client Simon Caulton, who has recently launched his footwear brand.
Also offering their expertise are Sunil Kant Munjal, Chairman of Indian conglomerate Hero Enterprise, as well as Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and Group CEO of Indian hospitality company OYO, one of the world’s most successful startups.
Valuable advice and expertise
The masterclass will cover a range of important themes, including:
- The international and Indian startup scene;
- How to get started;
- The role of incubation centres;
- Understanding the challenges startups face;
- The importance of business plans.
Makhan Singh, Senior Development Manager (India Partnerships) within BCU’s Research, Innovation, Enterprise and Employability directorate, says:
“We are hoping attendees will understand the changing and various dynamics in the modern era of setting up a startup, as well as the incubation process for new innovation.
“The masterclass will feature experts from different fields sharing their startup journey, challenges and key takeaways on what they see as their next opportunity.”
Innovative STEAM education in India
The masterclass is part of a series of sessions that will culminate in the launch of the Munjal Birmingham University Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MBCIE).
Located in Ludhiana, India, the Centre will promote innovative education and industrial innovation, as well as the region’s startups.
The Centre is a collaboration between BCU and Hero Group, through The Lala Bahadur Chand Munjal Foundation.
Featuring high-tech equipment including 3D printers, laser cutting tools and more, the facility aims to meet the needs of changing industries, providing a competitive advantage and new ways of thinking to underpin economic growth.
University leaders foresee MBCIE as ‘STEAMhouse India’.
It will follow the principles of its UK counterpart which places the arts at the heart of the traditional technical subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths to create the innovating boosting principle of ‘STEAM’.
It will also boast a well-equipped business incubation centre that will provide the region’s budding entrepreneurs with the expertise, facilities and support needed to launch their businesses.
“This is great news for the West Midlands and Birmingham’s relationship with India,” said Deputy-Vice Chancellor Julian Beer at the time of the partnership’s announcement.
“STEAM has the ability to transform economies across the globe and by developing this way of thinking and working, we can make a real difference to businesses and communities worldwide.”
Following this event, MBCIE is launching a three-month programme on startups and entrepreneurships.
Details will be revealed during the closure of the masterclass.
