New STPI Facility In Kolkata To Support AI, Blockchain And Emerging Tech Startups—All About It

The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has launched a new incubation facility at Salt Lake in Kolkata to promote entrepreneurship and IT exports from West Bengal.

The facility was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Jitin Prasada.

This initiative aims to foster innovation-led entrepreneurship, enhance IT exports, and strengthen the Information Technology (IT), IT enabled services (ITeS), and Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) industry in West Bengal.

Spanning 200,000 square feet, the incubation centre provides plug-and-play office spaces along with 75,000 sqft of raw incubation space.

The facility is equipped with high-speed data communication and advanced infrastructure to support IT/ITeS startups and SMEs.

Startups incubated here will receive mentorship, industry collaboration, and global networking opportunities.

The initiative is expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment in the region.

Speaking at the event, Jitin Prasada highlighted India’s growing role as a global technology hub.

“India is on a transformative journey to become the global hub of technology and innovation. The inauguration of the new STPI incubation facility in Kolkata is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering innovation, nurturing startups, and promoting inclusive growth across regions," Prasada said.

"As we stride forward in the era of Artificial Intelligence and data-driven innovation, India is focused on developing its own AI models and GPUs, ensuring equitable access for researchers, students, and startups. With vast data resources and the government’s commitment to expanding technology access beyond metropolitan cities, we are bridging the digital divide and unlocking opportunities in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities," he said.

"Together, let us build a future where India leads the world in technology and empowers every citizen in the journey towards a digitally advanced nation," the minister added.

Arvind Kumar, Director General of STPI, underscored the importance of the new facility in advancing frontier technologies.

“This incubation centre will provide world-class infrastructure, mentorship, and market access for startups, enabling them to drive innovation in frontier technologies such as AI, IoT, Blockchain, and FinTech," Kumar said.

STPI currently operates 67 centres across India, with 59 located in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to ensure equitable growth beyond metropolitan areas.

The organisation has also established 24 domain-specific Centres of Entrepreneurship (CoEs) focusing on sectors such as HealthTech, MedTech, Blockchain, IoT, and Agritech.

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