Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur has joined hands with Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC) to provide a global recognition to the various Indian Startups. 

The technology business incubator at IIT Kanpur which is the Foundation for Innovation & Research in Science & Technology (FIRST), also known by the brand name, SIIC IIT Kanpur has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC), located in Canada. 

The main aim of the said MoU signed between TBDC and FIRST, IIT Kanpur is to provide the business advisory, investor and industry connections to Indian startups that qualify under the Startup Visa and Soft-Landing programme of TBDC. Also, the shortlisted startups will be given an opportunity to relocate to Canada. 

Furthermore, the enterprises will establish a joint cross-mentorship programme as a collaborative venture for startups from both Canada as well as India. It can be expected that the collaboration will bring great changes to the existing startup ecosystem in both countries. 

Moreover, the TBDC and FIRST will provide a significant opportunity for incubation to the selected startups for a six months duration. 

Prof Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur said that the institute had earlier collaborated with the Singapore India Chamber of Commerce and expressed his happiness, saying that with the establishment of the association with TBDC, IIT Kanpur is moving ahead and expanding the institute's footprints in the global entrepreneurial ecosystem.