Macro and Micro Level Strategy for Creating Innovation Ecosystem on Campuses

Abstract

Cultivating the innovation ecosystem needs planning framework at institute and department level, for implementing innovative projects. The biggest challenge is to mobilize the innovation ideology and mindset as a mass movement across all levels, in an institution. Creating an ecosystem for innovation needs identification of gaps in current system and strategies to create a step by step ecosystem consisting of the key players of student, faculty, industry, department, and institutional cell. Resource mobilization, which may be totally different from traditional teaching–learning requirements, such as co-working space, advanced laboratories, customized mentoring, business and funding models, become centre-stage. The interplay of these elements, if carefully monitored and facilitated, can help create a robust ecosystem. This paper explores strategies for effectively creating innovation ecosystem on campuses which have so far been implementing curriculum in the traditional manner. A three-stage mentoring to help students to identify innovative ideas and implement them till the stage of PoCs through iterations. Thus, a seamless flow of resources and mentorship through policy and strategy with welldefined outcomes and timelines helps the institute build and sustain the innovation ecosystem.