Srinagar, July 27: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, through its Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Centre (SKIIE), joined hands with the IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) to organise 'Spark Social', a high-impact outreach seminar under the 14th Tata Social Enterprise Challenge (TSEC) 2026. The event, held at SKUAST-K Shalimar campus, aimed to inspire and guide students, researchers, and early-stage innovators towards building scalable, impact-driven social enterprises.

Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, who was the chief guest at the occasion, emphasised that innovation and entrepreneurship are now essential pillars of higher education. He called on young innovators to leverage their creative potential to address real-world societal problems while driving socio-economic growth across Jammu & Kashmir. He reaffirmed the university's dedication to supporting startups through robust incubation, expert mentorship, and strategic industry linkages.
During the event, Soujit Das, Assistant Vice President of Incubation at IIMCIP, delivered a detailed overview of the Tata Social Enterprise Challenge—India’s premier platform for social impact ventures. He walked participants through the application process, detailing available incubation support, mentorship, investor connections, and funding channels.
The seminar also featured insightful technical sessions, including a presentation on sustainable, impact-led business models by Dr Shuvendu Prasad Roy, Social Entrepreneur and CEO of Pietbillo Solutions Pvt Ltd.
Earlier, CEO, SKIIE, Naveed Hamid, while delivering the welcome address, underscored SKUAST-K’s vision of nurturing an innovation-driven ecosystem to transform young minds from job seekers into job creators.
The event capped off with an interactive Pitching Session, where aspiring entrepreneurs presented their business ideas directly to an expert panel from IIMCIP and SKIIE, receiving hands-on feedback and mentorship to refine their business concepts. The enthusiastic participation from students, faculty, and local founders reaffirmed SKUAST-K’s growing status as a powerhouse for youth-led social innovation.