Purpose of Technology Facilitation Centre
The Government of West Bengal in partnership with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Government of India has set up an MSME Technology Facilitation Centre (TFC) in Kolkata. Functioning since 2013, the TFC acts as an interface between technology developers and users. For this, the Centre seeks to leverage the expertise of knowledge institutions (private, public and R&D centres) to support a sustainable ecosystem for the SME sector.
Components of the TFC ecosystem
The TFC acts as a networking hub for technology providers and technology seekers. Currently this includes the state MSME, district industry centres, chambers of commerce, 38 CSIR laboratories across India, academic institutes of West Bengal (e.g. universities, IITs, IIEST, etc.). Lately, the TFC has been pro-actively exploring engagements of knowledge partners at international level so as to reap the benefits of globalization optimally for Bengal's small-scale sector. The TFC is actively considering engagements with Germany through the Indo German Chamber of Commerce and with knowledge and industrial institutions in Singapore.
Approaches to collaboration
- Information sharing on MSME sector
- Joint need assessment surveys
- Skill development through exchange programmes
- Seeding clusters of mutual interest
- Cluster twinning
- Incubating start-ups through both physical and virtual modes
- Facilitating participatory technology development by networking knowledge institutions
Domains being addressed
- Light and Heavy Engineering
- Textiles
- Leather
- Machine tools
- IT and Electronics
- Steel (sponge and pig iron)
- Clean Energy and Environment
- Waste to Wealth
- Textiles and Crafts
- Pottery
- Safe Drinking Water
- Agro and Food Technologies
- Fibre Optics and Photonics
- Automobiles and Auto-Components
Engaging overseas knowledge partners
In an effort to fuel local pathways for global development, the TFC envisages engaging overseas knowledge partners so as to synergize global development engines with Bengal's growth strategies. Such partners include (but not restricted to) universities, R&D institutions, innovation centres and knowledge-driven industries that would serve as technology providers.
Contact: Chief Coordinator, Technology Facilitation Centre, CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, 196 Raja S.C Mullick Road, Kolkata 700 032, India, www.msmetfc.in, e-mail:info_tfc@cgcri.res.in
Formation Of Program Management Cum Technical Co-ordination Committee
The Te3rms of Reference (Tor) of the Program Management Committee