SRINAGAR: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir’s Innovation, Incubation & Entrepreneurship (SKIIE) Centre has been recognised as ‘Incubator of the Year’ by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir at the Annual Startup Mela held in Jammu today.
The award was presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in presence of Advisor to CM Nasir Aslam Sogami, MLA Vijaypur Chander Prakash Ganga, Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce Vikramjit Singh, Secretary Industries, Director JKEDI, and other senior officials and dignitaries at the event organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) under the Industries and Commerce Department.
The recognition follows a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a Government-appointed committee, which assessed incubation centres across the Union Territory on parameters including innovation output, patents, startup performance, sustainability, governance, mentorship, industry linkages, and overall impact. The committee cited SKUAST-K’s SKIIE Centre for its focused support to disruptive startups, particularly in agri-tech, artificial intelligence, deep-tech, food processing, biotechnology, and rural enterprise sectors, along with its strong mentor network and facilitation of market and investment access.
The award was received by the Chief Executive Officer of the SKIIE Centre Naveed Hamid and comprises a Certificate of Excellence, ₹50,000 as award money, and a ₹50 lakh capital seed fund to further strengthen incubation activities at the Centre.
In a major boost to the university’s startup ecosystem, four startups mentored and incubated at SKUAST-K were also sanctioned seed grants of ₹20 lakh each, amounting to a total seed funding of ₹80 lakh. The startups 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 aimed at supporting product development, validation, and early market entry.
Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, congratulated the SKIIE team on the achievement, stating that the award is a testament to the vision, dedication, and collaborative efforts of the incubation team, faculty mentors, and student innovators. He described the SKIIE Centre as a place of hope for young innovators and startups and urged the team to use this recognition as a catalyst to achieve national and global visibility. He also congratulated Prof Haroon R Naik, Director Planning & Monitoring/Research, and CEO SKIIE Centre Naveed Hamid along with his team for the achievement.
Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Prof Haroon Rashid Naik said the honour reflects the credibility and impact of SKUAST-K’s incubation efforts and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to expanding support services and strengthening partnerships that enable startups to scale and create lasting local impact.
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir’s recognition further consolidates SKUAST-K’s position as a leading institution in innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture and allied sectors. The SKIIE Centre plans to utilise the award and seed support to scale incubation capacity, strengthen industry collaborations, and deepen outreach across Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on developing, validating, and scaling solutions to regional agricultural and rural challenges, contributing towards making J&K a model bio-economy in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.