Govt departments and PSUs will make use of the B2G summit to present their requirements before startups and procure products and services from them.
Firming up the links between the startup ecosystem and the government would be explored in detail when the country’s largest Business to Government (B2G) summit gets underway on April 26 in Kerala.
The B2G Summit, seen as a platform for startups to showcase their products and services required by the government departments and the public sector undertakings (PSUs), would be a major initiative in this regard, and would be hosted by Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and incubation activities in the state.
The event to be set in motion by the Kerala Minister for Finance K N Balagopal, will have Kerala’s Chief Secretary VP Joy talking on ‘Startup Procurement: The Kerala Model.’ The one-day event will set the stage for startups to interact with government and PSUs and understand the latter’s requirements. The meet will also provide a platform to startups to display their products.
B2G summit to spur Startup Innovation Zones in Govt depts
The government departments and public sector undertakings will make use of the opportunity to present their requirements before startups and procure the products and services from them. The summit is also foreseen as paving the way for setting up Startup Innovation Zones in the government departments, which will be facilitated by KSUM.
KSUM CEO John M Thomas said that the summit will offer opportunities for startups to learn about the procurement practices in India adopted by various state governments and PSUs. The event will provide a platform for deeper engagement between startups and departments. Startups can showcase their innovative products and services that are useful for departments, he added.
Early adoption of tech startups
Public procurement from startups has been formalized by the Kerala State IT Policy 2017, which mandates the state government to act as an early adopter for promising technology startups from Kerala. Startup products and services upto a ceiling of Rs 20 lakh can be directly procured and from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 1 crore can be procured through a limited tender among the startups.
The scheme has successfully facilitated completion of 135 procurements worth more than Rs 12 crore from startups. Startup India and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) have recognized the scheme as one of the best practices in the country and the same was showcased to various states.