Latest news with #CEPAStart-upSeries
Business Standard
06-08-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
UAE-India CEPA Council Signs MoU with FITT, IIT Delhi to Catalyse Global Pathways for Indian Start-ups
PNN New Delhi [India], August 6: As part of its ongoing Start-up Series Roadshow, the UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) partnered with the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), the industry interface organisation of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), to host an engagement session aimed at advancing global opportunities for India's next-generation start-ups. The event was held at the IIT Delhi campus, an institution widely regarded as a cornerstone of India's innovation ecosystem. With its research-driven entrepreneurial culture, strong industry linkages, and globally oriented start-up ecosystem, IIT Delhi served as a natural forum for discussions on internationalisation and collaboration. The session opened with a welcome address by Dr. Nikhil Aggarwal, Managing Director of FITT, followed by a keynote speech from Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi. Mr. Ahmed Aljneibi, Director of the UAE-India CEPA Council, also addressed the audience. Attendees were given an exclusive preview of the official UAE-India Start-up Series trailer, which highlighted the programme's core offerings, selection process, and scale-up roadmap. The screening was followed by an engaging open-floor discussion, during which Mr. Aljneibi responded to a wide range of questions from students and founders, covering topics such as sectoral priorities, investor readiness, programme timelines, and cross-border support mechanisms. The session culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UICC and FITT. The MoU aims to establish a launchpad for Indian start-ups to connect with the UAE's dynamic innovation ecosystem through the CEPA Start-up Series, a flagship initiative offering tailored access to funding, mentorship, and international growth opportunities. Speaking at the event, Mr Ahmed Aljneibi, Director of the UAE-India CEPA Council, shared his reflections on the importance of the partnership with IIT Delhi. "FITT has played a crucial role in translating research into real-world solutions while nurturing the next generation of innovators. Through this partnership, we are proud to support ambitious founders ready to explore the UAE as a launchpad for global growth. This is an important step in strengthening the entrepreneurial bridge between our two nations." Dr Nikhil Aggarwal, Managing Director of FITT, shared his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "This partnership is a timely opportunity to connect IIT Delhi's vibrant start-up network with global platforms like the CEPA Start-up Series. It brings together the right mix of exposure, mentorship, and funding opportunities that Indian founders need to thrive in international markets such as the UAE." The event concluded with an interactive walk-through and networking session at the IIT Delhi Research and Innovation Park, where participating start-ups had the opportunity to share their ideas and engage directly with the visiting delegation. Applications for the CEPA Start-up Series remain open. Owing to overwhelming interest, the application deadline has been extended to 15 August 2025. Apply now at: For media inquiries or further information, please contact: info@ About the UAE-India CEPA Council The UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) is a dedicated bilateral platform established to advance trade, investment, and innovation under the UAE-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. It facilitates strategic collaborations between businesses, governments, and institutions across both countries to unlock shared economic opportunities. Follow the UAE-India CEPA Council on: LinkedIn Instagram X (formerly Twitter) YouTube About FITT, IIT Delhi The Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT) is the industry interface and innovation arm of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. FITT enables technology commercialisation, entrepreneurial incubation, and strategic partnerships across sectors. With a focus on translating research into scalable solutions, FITT plays a key role in shaping India's deep-tech start-up ecosystem and supporting ventures with global ambitions.
News18
28-07-2025
- Business
- News18
IIM-Calcutta partners with UAE-India CEPA Council to help ventures scale up ops
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Kolkata, Jul 28 (PTI) IIM-Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) partnered with the UAE-India CEPA Council (UICC) for enabling ventures to scale up operations and expand, a statement said on Monday. The partnership aims to facilitate a structured pathway for entrepreneurial talent at IIM-Calcutta to engage with the UAE's ecosystem, unlocking new avenues for international growth, it said. 'IIM-Calcutta Innovation Park has been instrumental in driving inclusive entrepreneurship and nurturing scalable models across eastern India. We are proud to welcome IIMCIP into the CEPA Start-up Series network," UICC director Ahmed Aljneibi said. 'This partnership opens a powerful gateway for start-ups in this region to think globally and plug into the UAE's dynamic innovation economy," he said. IIM-Calcutta Innovation Park CEO Subhrangshu Sanyal said the partnership is a timely step toward expanding the global outlook of India's entrepreneurs. 'At IIMCIP, we focus on building impact-driven ventures with strong fundamentals. The CEPA Start-up Series will offer our founders access to valuable mentorship, cross-border exposure and soft-landing support in the UAE, a region known for backing bold and transformative ideas," he said. PTI SUS SOM Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UAE Ambassador to India Launches Landmark Start-up Series to Power Cross-Border Innovation
The UAE-India CEPA Council ( UICC ), in partnership with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in India, launched the UAE–India CEPA Start-up Series in New Delhi. The initiative delivers on a key commitment under the UAE–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to promote innovation-led collaboration and support the internationalisation of Indian start-ups. In his special address, Dr Abdulnasser Alshaali, the UAE Ambassador to India, underscored the UAE's commitment to entrepreneurship and cross-border innovation : 'Start-ups are central to the UAE–India economic corridor. Through this Series, the UAE-India CEPA Council seeks to connect India's brightest entrepreneurial minds with the UAE's world-class ecosystem, supporting their scale-up journeys while enriching our bilateral innovation landscape.' The launch comes amid a period of strong economic momentum between the UAE and India. In FY 2023–24, bilateral trade reached USD 83.64 billion, marking a nearly 15% year-on-year increase since the CEPA came into effect. India's non-oil exports to the UAE surged by over 20%, while UAE foreign direct investment (FDI) into India tripled, rising from USD 1.03 billion in FY 2021–22 to USD 3.35 billion in FY 2022–23, making the UAE India's fourth-largest investor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 23.7% Returns in last 5 years with Shriram Life's ULIP Shriram Life Insurance Undo These gains further reinforce the UAE's enduring commitment to championing India's dynamic start-up ecosystem. Since 2000, UAE-based investors have channelled an estimated USD 20 billion into the Indian economy, fuelling innovation, accelerating growth, and cementing the UAE's position as a key strategic partner. Building on its efforts to deepen collaboration with India's innovation ecosystem, the launch event featured the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the UICC and prominent academic and entrepreneurial institutions, including PRIME Meghalaya under the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (M.B.M.A.), IDEATE Lab @ O.P. Jindal Global University, and Jamia Hamdard. Live Events The event concluded with a presentation by Ahmed Aljneibi, Director of the UICC, who unveiled the bold vision and strategic framework of the Start-up Series. He outlined how the initiative will culminate in a high-profile pitch event in New Delhi, where five exceptional start-ups will be selected to receive an exclusive UAE soft-landing package—including incubation support, business licencing, tailored mentorship, and direct access to leading investors, innovation hubs, and free zone networks across the Emirates. The event drew over 100 participants from across the start-up, investment, policy, and media landscape. Attendees witnessed the unveiling of the official Start-up Series microsite and the premiere of a promotional trailer calling for applications from high-potential Indian ventures. The launch was covered live across the UICC's social media handles. A permanent gallery is now available on Instagram and LinkedIn, and a post-produced video of the event will be published on YouTube. Start-ups can now apply through the official microsite. The application window will remain open until 31 July 2025. (
