Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), April 11: The five-day IDE Bootcamp 2026 concluded on April 10 at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT), with a focus on encouraging students to convert innovative ideas into registered startups and sustainable enterprises.
Addressing the valedictory session, Ajit Anand, Deputy Director of the Department of Industries, emphasised that the bootcamp marked the beginning of an entrepreneurial journey rather than its end. He urged participants to take their ideas forward and develop them into viable ventures. Highlighting the national vision of promoting self-reliance and “Local for Vocal”, he encouraged students to design solutions rooted in local challenges and available resources.
Sarim Moin, Innovation Officer at the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, outlined key learnings from the bootcamp, including design thinking, startup development processes and awareness of intellectual property rights. He advised participants to utilise national-level support mechanisms such as the Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP), which offers funding support of up to Rs. 10 lakh, along with initiatives like the YUKTI scheme, the proposed MoE Investor Network and the KAPILA scheme aimed at patent facilitation.
Anbumathi, Innovation Venture Catalyst and Design Thinking expert from the Wadhwani Foundation, acknowledged the enthusiasm and creativity demonstrated by participants. She noted that despite geographical and infrastructural constraints in the islands, students presented innovative ideas with strong potential during the pitching sessions.
The final day of the bootcamp featured presentations of 25 ideas by student teams, which were evaluated by a panel comprising experts from startup and entrepreneurship sectors. The evaluation focused on innovation, feasibility and overall execution potential of the proposed concepts.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Shraboni Mallick, Convener of the Bootcamp, marking the end of the five-day programme aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among students in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The IDE Bootcamp 2026 served as a platform to equip participants with practical knowledge and exposure to startup ecosystems, encouraging them to translate ideas into actionable business models and contribute to the growing innovation landscape.
