The National Policy on Software Products aims to develop India as the global software product hub, driven by innovation, improved commercialization, sustainable Intellectual Property (IP), promoting technology start-ups and specialized skill sets. Further, the Policy aims to align with other Government initiatives such as Start-up India, Make in India and Digital India, Skill India etc., so as to create a robust Indian Software products ecosystem.
The Indian Software Product industry has made historic achievements in FY2022, reaching $13 Bn in total revenue. Undeniably 2021 was the year of tech start-ups and unicorns growth in India. Apart from the unicorn story, the software product segment witnessed a rise in demand for collaborative applications, application platforms, security software, system and service management software, and content workflow and management applications.
The followings major programmes are being implemented under the National Policy on Software Products-2019:
Innovation Challenge for Development of Indian Video Conferencing Solution (Software Product)
A programme of Innovation Challenge for development of Video Conferencing solution has been launched to develop innovative Video Conferencing solution. The initiative is an attempt to promote Indian Software products as envisaged under the National Policy on Software Products. One winner and three runner-ups have been declared under the progarmme. Also, the winning product is being used by the Government through contract.
ICT Grand Challenge (ICTGC) under National Policy on Software Products
National Policy on Software Products has a provision to conduct at least 20 Grand Challenge so as to develop a variety of software products addressing socio-economic challenges. For, this, an ICT Grand Challenge (ICTGC) programme has been launched to develop innovative software products by conducting four challenges round in the specified area.
Recently, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) in partnership with National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM), Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Jal Shakti has concluded ICTGC to develop a ‘Smart water supply measurement and monitoring system’ via an ICT Grand Challenge. One winner and three runner-ups have been declared under the progarmme
Start-up Accelerator Programme of MeitY for Product Innovation, Development and Growth (SAMRIDH)
The SAMRIDH programme has been launched to support existing and upcoming Accelerators to select and accelerate potential product-based start-ups to scale. The program focus on accelerating the start-ups by providing customer connect, investor connect, and international immersion. The programme is being implemented by MeitY Startup Hub (MSH). Under the scheme (EoI), 22 Accelerators are being supported at present.
MeitY-NASSCOM Start-up Women Entrepreneur Award for Software Products
Government of India has been assigning increasing importance to the development of women entrepreneurs in the country in recent years. MeitY-NASSCOM Start-up Women Entrepreneur Award for Software products is a remarkable mission to recognize & cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit in women and encourage promising women tech Entrepreneurs who not only contribute to the nation economy but also the social community.
For 2020-2021, MeitY-NASSCOM Start-up Women Entrepreneur Awards for Software Products was announced in partnership with UN Women. In these awards twelve women entrepreneurs as winners, two women entrepreneurs as Jury Choice Awardees and one women entrepreneur for a special mention was selected. Further, the 33 women entrepreneurs have also been selected for MeitY-NASSCOM Tech. Women Entrepreneur Accelerator Program to give them access to networks, connects, learning and resources that are needed to build scalable, profitable and global businesses.
iTamil Nadu Technology (iTNT) Hub in Chennai
In order to establish a Software products Cluster under NPSP, the 1st cluster titled iTamil Nadu Technology (iTNT) Hub in Chennai is being established. The primary objective of Tamil Nadu Technology Hub will be to nurture the deep tech innovation ecosystem in Tamil Nadu that can guide, develop, implement and support startups, especially in a scaling up phase in deep tech. iTNT Hub shall support 200 numbers of start-ups / accelerated in technology space preferably in deep tech/emerging tech over a period of five years. In addition to that 200 start-ups over a period of five years shall be supported in the hub and spoke model and provided acceleration and infrastructural service.
