MAHE, Vision Karnataka Foundation starts research-based incubation facility

NEW DELHI: Vision Karnataka Foundation (VKF) and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) inaugurated a research-based incubation facility for geographical indications (GIs) tagged products on December 27 at Manipal.

The incubation programme will work on developing, building and promoting livelihood clusters around Udupi region with GI focussed communities belonging to the Udupi Mattu Gulla and Shankarpura (Udupi) Mallige clusters. It will then gradually cover the other GIs grown in Karnataka through the incubation program.

Vivesvaraya Trade Promotion Centre (VTCP), the nodal agency for the promotion of international trade and geographical indications tagged products from Karnataka was also represented on the occasion.

As per the agreement, VKF will provide support assistance to GI farmers, self-help groups (SHGs) and other stakeholders for improving the product quality, enhancing marketability, providing better market linkages for the GI-tagged products. The VKF is planning to set up common facility centers (CFC) under the micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) cluster development programme (CDP) scheme to provide much needed value addition to these GI tagged products.

First-of-its-kind

VKF president Kishor Jagirdar said it is a proud moment for the foundation to be associated with the commerce department, MAHE, to launch this initiative of research-based incubation facility. “This is a first-of-its-kind in the country that is focussing on incubation for GI tagged communities engaged in market linkage activities. The incubation facility is also supporting other activities like product design, branding, packing and packaging, legal aspects, standardisation, leveraging value adds, exploring digital marketplace and other strategies.”

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MAHE vice-chancellor MD Venkatesh expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative and said, “This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the journey of sustainable development and community empowerment. At MAHE, we are deeply committed to fostering innovation and education that benefits society at large.”