The establishment of AI startup incubation centre of Parabola9 at RGUKT Nuzvid IIIT is a leap in the right direction. It will be basically focusing on nurturing young talent and especially in rural areas.
The students can gain exposure to cutting-edge AI applications as Minister Parthasarathy highlighted the way RGUKT has been transforming students from villages into skilled engineers. The involvement of Parabola9 is to give the students an opportunity to explore AI and machine learning as these areas are currently shaping industries across the world.
The hands-on approach of the centre is promising equipped with real-world projects which are combined with internships offering a stipend of ₹12,000 per month. It is probably their first step toward in understanding the demands of the industry abreast of earning recognition for their abilities.
A total of 15 Computer Science Engineering students have been selected as full-time interns and this marks the beginning of a journey. The students had to clear an aptitude test and an interview to get selected. Parabola9 Director Surendra Bellamkonda expressed enthusiasm for strengthening a startup ecosystem in Nuzvid that aims to bring IT solutions to rural communities with a global outlook.
This centre could be a game-changer for RGUKT Nuzvid. The practical experience that they gain here could help them compete with peers globally and despite their rural upbringing.
However, the true measure of success will lie in the effective way the centre sustains operations and support students in the long run. Continuous collaboration between the university, the government and Parabola9 will be crucial.
It is hard not to feel optimistic about the potential impact on both education and entrepreneurship in India’s rural landscape.
