Intel India Announces Plans to Open Maker Lab in Bengaluru

Intel India announced its plans to set up an innovation lab in its Bengaluru campus Wednesday, a platform for entrepreneurs to accelerate product and hardware design innovation for startups in India. The facilities will be officially unveiled on the August 27.

The firm will work with the country's startup ecosystem, including central/ state government incubation initiatives, academic institution-led incubators, corporate and commercial accelerators, an emailed statement said.

The Maker Lab will provide infrastructure like development kits, reference boards, hardware, and software tools, in addition to mentoring and business connections. The facility will help startups to bring their ideas to fruition, from proof of concept to prototypes, to market-ready products and solutions. Following successful prototype, startups will be connected to hardware ecosystem players like OEMs (original design manufacturers), ISVs (independent software vendors) and system integrators. Successful products will be showcased at the 'Intel India Maker Showcase', which will allow delegates and visitors to see, feel and experience the products and solutions from the lab. The Intel India Maker Lab and Maker Showcase are planned to be available before end of this quarter.

"With the Intel India Maker Lab, we are offering a strong platform to India's vibrant startup ecosystem, and encouraging young innovators to turn their ideas into exciting and relevant products for India," said Kumud Srinivasan, President, Intel India.

(Also Read: Have an Idea That's 'Made for India'? Intel and Government Will Pay You to Develop It )

In a mailed response to NDTV Gadgets, Intel said that it will be announcing the details for the application process before the opening of the Intel India Maker Lab, and said that they will collaborate both with incubators and accelerators to help startups to reduce the time to market for hardware based products. On a case to case basis, startups that are part of Intel India Maker Lab will receive nominal financial support towards sustenance for a short period of time.

Intel presently has an incubator at IIM Ahmedabad's CIIE (Centre for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship) on as a part of the Digital India vision, which aims to increase technology adoption in the country.