AP Sets Up 'AP FIRST' to Promote Research and Innovation
As per the order, AP FIRST will bring together research institutions, industry partners, startups and government departments to create a collaborative innovation ecosystem.
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has established Andhra Pradesh–Future Innovation, Research, Science and Technology (AP FIRST) as a Section 8 company under the Companies Act to promote research, innovation and technology commercialisation in the state.
Environment and forests principal secretary Kantilal Dande issued GO-Ms-27 on Monday, stating that AP FIRST has been created to strengthen the state's innovation ecosystem and drive research-led development across priority sectors.
The initiative will focus on aerospace and defence, space technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors, quantum technologies, healthcare and biotechnology, renewable energy, rural and agricultural technologies, and advanced materials.
As per the order, AP FIRST will bring together research institutions, industry partners, startups and government departments to create a collaborative innovation ecosystem. It will promote implementation-focused research, facilitate collaboration between public and private institutions, and support innovation through financial and non-financial interventions.
The initiative will also prepare a long-term action plan in coordination with central institutions, including the principal scientific adviser to the PM, the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, as well as departments such as the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Biotechnology.
The government said AP FIRST would leverage existing research infrastructure available at institutions such as IIT Tirupati, IISER Tirupati and state universities. It has earmarked seed capital of Rs.5 crore for the initiative and plans to explore convergence with central government programmes, including the proposed Rs.1 lakh crore research, development and innovation fund.