About Our Mission
Empowering entrepreneurs since 2021, we've built a thriving ecosystem where innovation meets opportunity
Our Story
CURAJ Innovation Foundation of Central University of Rajasthan (CIF@CURAJ) was setup under the guidance of Hon’ble Vice Chancellor with the aim of identifying, encouraging, and fostering entrepreneurial talents within the CURAJ as well as surrounding areas.
Since 2022, it was realized that CIF@CURAJ must play a bigger role in developing entrepreneurial mindset in the faculties and students. Our nation targets to become 5 trillion-dollar economy by 2024. To reach this benchmark, HEIs have to play a vital role by evolving ecosystem and mechanisms to convert the young minds into high quality technical human resource capable of doing cutting edge research, innovation and entrepreneurship. To develop this culture in CURAJ, CIF@CURAJ started conducting sessions on innovations, startups and entrepreneurship. The primary mandate of CIF@CURAJ is to encourage, inspire and nurture young students by supporting them to work with new ideas and transform them into prototypes while they are in campus. CIF@CURAJ puts in concerted efforts to identify grass-root innovators from neighboring villages in varied domains such as agriculture, engineering, etc. In the academic year 2023-24, CIF@CURAJ had setup CURAJ Incubation Foundation, a section 8 company, for setting up full fledge Incubation Centre. For this ISC@CURAJ actively applied for grants like NIDHI iTBI centre from DST and eYUVA Centre from BIRAC. With this funding CIF@CURAJ will setup Fabrication Lab, Biotechnology Lab, Incubation spaces for budding startups.
Our Core Objectives
Fostering an Innovative Ecosystem
To develop a friendly innovation ecosystem among the faculties, staff and students where majority of stakeholders remain motivated for doing innovation in any area of their interest that is beyond the boundaries of departments.
Innovation & Startup Training
To train and educate the faculties and students about various aspects of innovation and startups.
Implementing National Innovation & Startup Policy
To establish and adopt functional “National Innovation and Startup Policy for students and faculties” in the CURAJ.
Building a Vibrant Startup Ecosystem
To create a vibrant local innovation ecosystem Start-up supporting Mechanism in HEIs Establish Function Ecosystem for Scouting Ideas and Pre-incubation of Ideas.
Connecting Academia and Grassroot Innovators
To facilitate interaction between the teaching / student communities and grass-root innovators Mentoring of grass-root innovators to facilitate the transfer of technology to the society.
Our Impact by Numbers
Over a decade of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship
Meet Our Leadership
Our experienced team brings together decades of entrepreneurial expertise and industry knowledge
Dr. Akhil Agrawal
Director
Associate Professor and Head of Microbiology at CURAJ, Ph.D. (TERI University), postdoc (University of Calgary). Expert in crop and agricultural microbiology, IPR, innovation, and startup ecosystems.
Prof. Anand Bhalerao
Chairman
Visionary academic leader and current Vice Chancellor of Central University of Rajasthan, dedicated to solution-driven research, knowledge dissemination, and building a value-rich, community-embedded university.
Dr. Hemlata Manglani
Director
Associate Professor and Head, Department of Economics, known for inspiring leadership, commitment to student success, and advancing economic research for societal impact.