Vadodara-based Parul University recently hosted Begoña Gómez and other delegates from the Spanish government. Ms Begoña Gómez, who is also the wife of the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, was on a tour of India, including Gujarat.
During her visit, she engaged with 12 innovative student-led startups of the university, toured the university’s incubation hub, and interacted with the dignitaries of the university – getting a glimpse into and understanding the startup ecosystem and entrepreneurship networking of Gujarat. The state government had chosen incubation centers of Gujarat.
Through her interactions with the students and incubation mentors, she gained insights into the unique approaches adopted by these student startups that aim to address global issues, from eco-friendly agricultural solutions to groundbreaking health tech innovations. Her discussions with young entrepreneurs revealed both the hurdles and triumphs these student ventures experience, enriching her understanding of the challenges facing startups in emerging economies.
During her keynote interaction, she said, “You are doing an incredible job in the field of Entrepreneurship and Innovation through the incubation center. The focus on Social Innovation is particularly inspiring, as it addresses urgent global challenges. Your presentation was exceptional, and I’m thrilled to engage with such passionate young innovators. Entrepreneurship is truly the need of the hour which can solve many major global problems.”
The visiting dignitaries took a tour of the incubation center. The center provides aspiring entrepreneurs with mentorship, funding opportunities, and market launch essentials that are important for the launch of successful startups. The incubation center, a part of Parul Innovation & Entrepreneurship Research Center (PIERC), has launched more than 200+ student-led startups and brought them to remarkable success. The center also stands as the true testament to the university’s vision of developing an ecosystem where innovation thrives.
The visit included an interaction with the Founders and Co-Founders of 12 innovation student-led startups; Galanto Innovations, Medref Healthbridge, Yield Earth Pro Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Cardio, Dori Handicrafts, PlanPact Innovations Pvt. Ltd., Cligent, Vcare Ostomy, CareKali, Indiesemic Pvt. Ltd., Ecorrect Pvt. Ltd. and CareBotech – representing the entrepreneur ventures across a diverse array of sectors, including technology, healthcare, sustainable energy, agriculture, and more. The university also has its Startup Accelerator Centres spread across the prominent cities in Gujarat – including Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Surat.
Dr. Devanshu Patel commenting on the visit said, “It is a moment of immense pride for Parul University to be recognized on a global scale. Her Excellency’s visit has strengthened our resolve to support our students in their pursuit of entrepreneurial excellence. This interaction has definitely opened doors for collaborative endeavors with Spain in the future.”
