NCB-IC Inaugurates Incubation Centre to Foster Innovation in Cement Industry

Shri Sanjiv engaged with startups associated with NCB, such as LivNSense Technologies, Autoabode, AltSF, Onelement, and Bio.

The National Council for Cement and Building Materials-Incubation Centre (NCB-IC) was inaugurated today by Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The inauguration event, held at NCB Ballabgarh, saw the presence of notable figures including Vice-Chairman of NCB and Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Star Cement Ltd., Shri Rajendra Chamaria; Strategic Advisor to Dalmia Cement (B) Ltd., Shri Mahendra Singhi; and Director General of NCB, Dr. L P Singh.

Shri Sanjiv engaged with startups associated with NCB, such as LivNSense Technologies, Autoabode, AltSF, Onelement, and Bio. These startups are pioneering in areas like the application of artificial intelligence to increase the percentage of alternative fuels, pre-combustion technology, 3-D printing technology, and carbon capture and utilization.

In his address, Shri Sanjiv commended NCB for establishing the incubation centre and articulated his vision of setting up 50 incubators across the manufacturing sector. He emphasized the cement sector's critical role in India's growth and development, highlighting its continuous evolution driven by technological advancements, sustainability, and energy efficiency. This initiative is a significant milestone in fostering innovation and growth in the cement industry.

He also noted the Government of India's efforts to build a robust ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups through the Startup India initiative, launched on January 16, 2016. As of today, these efforts have resulted in 1,36,584 DPIIT-recognized startups. Shri Sanjiv expressed confidence that such inclusive efforts would propel India to developed nation status even before 2047.

The NCB-IC will provide mentorship to incubatee startups and entrepreneurs by NCB scientists and industry experts in cement and building materials. The incubatees will have access to NCB's advanced laboratories for their development work, aiming to create market-ready products for commercialization.

Additionally, the event saw the launch of the official web and mobile application for the upcoming 18th NCB International Conference & Exhibition on Cement, Concrete, and Building Materials, scheduled from November 27 to 29, 2024, at Yashobhoomi, IICC Dwarka, New Delhi, India. This year's conference, themed "Cementing the Net Zero Future," follows the success of seventeen previous NCB International Conferences.