AP-FIRST Established To Promote Research, Innovation & Technology

Likewise, he said the company established under Section 8 of the Companies Act will also focus on renewable energy, rural & agricultural technologies and advanced materials. "Government, after careful examination of the matter, hereby issues orders for the establishment of AP-FIRST (Andhra Pradesh- Future Innovation, Research, Science & Technology) as a company under Section-8 of the Companies Act," Dande said in a government order (GO).

He said the company is established with the infrastructure of the existing facilities available in institutions such as IIT - Tirupati, IISER Tirupati, and state universities, wherever possible. With a seed capital of Rs 5 crore, Dande said AP-FIRST will explore convergence with Central government initiatives, including the proposed Rs 1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation Fund and achieve self-sufficiency in mobilising funds.

Further, the principal secretary noted that AP-FIRST will integrate research institutions, industry partners, startups and government departments to create a collaborative innovation ecosystem. He said this ecosystem will be based on collating and bringing all the innovation and research in all the fields, with a focus on implementation research to make the southern state a global hub, across sectors.

Dande said AP-FIRST will collaborate with both private and public institutional research areas and bring out interventions and schemes. Similarly, he said it will create a long-term action plan coordinating with the Government of India (GoI) institutions and departments, among other initiatives.