Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India

Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India
ParizadBaria · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India
Established	1983
Type	Autonomous institution
City	Ahmedabad
State	Gujarat
Country	India
Campus	Urban

Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India is an autonomous academic institution established in 1983 focused on entrepreneurship development, small enterprise management, and venture incubation. It combines management education, research, training, and policy advocacy to support enterprise creation and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises across India. The institute interfaces with national bodies, international agencies, and industry networks to advance entrepreneurship practice and policy.

History

The institute was founded in 1983 with collaboration among the Government of Gujarat, Industrial Development Bank of India, State Bank of India, and Life Insurance Corporation of India, drawing support from development agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank. Early initiatives linked to the institute included capacity building programs influenced by models from the Small Industries Development Bank of India and the National Institute of Bank Management. Over time the institute engaged with policy forums including the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Planning Commission (India), and international partners like the International Labour Organization and UNIDO. The institute evolved through strategic alliances with academic organizations such as the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, and the National Institute of Design, shaping curricula and incubation practices attuned to Indian industrial clusters like those in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Its historical trajectory intersected with national reforms including the New Economic Policy (1991), regional industrial schemes, and programs promoted by the Small Industries Service Institute.

Campus and Infrastructure

Located in Ahmedabad, the campus integrates academic blocks, an incubation center, libraries, and residential facilities, proximate to institutions such as the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and the Ahmedabad Textile Industry's Research Association. Facilities encompass a digital library with collections comparable to resources at the National Institute of Bank Management and laboratory spaces for product prototyping similar to centers at the Bureau of Indian Standards. The institute’s infrastructure supports events tied to networks like the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, the Confederation of Indian Industry, and the National Entrepreneurship Network. On-campus incubation and co-working spaces host startups drawn from regional innovation ecosystems including the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre and the Gujarat University research community.

Academic Programs

Academic offerings include postgraduate diplomas and executive programs in enterprise management, entrepreneurship, and family business, designed with inputs from institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and the National Institute of Design. Programs draw curriculum frameworks influenced by standards used at the All India Council for Technical Education and benchmarked against offerings at the Indian School of Business and the XLRI. Course modules often reference case studies from corporations like Tata Group, Reliance Industries, Infosys, and Wipro, and entrepreneurial ventures documented in publications associated with the Economic Times and the Business Standard. Collaborative degree and certification linkages have been developed with universities including Gujarat University and professional bodies such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.

Research and Consultancy

The institute conducts applied research on venture creation, microfinance, cluster development, and entrepreneurship policy, engaging with funding agencies like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Consultancy assignments have included work for the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, state industrial departments, and multinational programs involving United Nations Development Programme projects. Research outputs have intersected with studies from think tanks such as the National Council of Applied Economic Research and the Observer Research Foundation, and publications in journals akin to those of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations and the Centre for Policy Research.

Training, Outreach and Incubation

Training programs target entrepreneurs, bank officers, and policy makers with collaborations involving State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Outreach initiatives include enterprise development programs for women entrepreneurs modeled on projects by the Self Employed Women's Association and microcredit schemes in dialogue with Grameen Bank principles. The institute’s incubation ecosystem has supported startups that later interfaced with accelerators such as TLabs, Startup India, and networks including NASSCOM and TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), and has organized events with venture capital firms similar to Sequoia Capital and Accel Partners.

Governance and Accreditation

Governance structures reflect collaboration among founding stakeholders including the Industrial Development Bank of India and state agencies, with a board comprising representatives from institutions like the Reserve Bank of India and the Ministry of Finance (India). Accreditation and quality assurance align with frameworks used by the University Grants Commission (India) and recognition from bodies such as the All India Council for Technical Education. The institute’s standards and audit practices reference norms applied by professional councils including the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and international accreditation discussions akin to those with EFMD and AACSB peers.

Notable Alumni and Impact

Alumni have launched ventures and held leadership roles across enterprises and public bodies, with impact narratives linked to companies and organizations such as Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Zomato, OYO Rooms, Flipkart, HCL Technologies, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj, Amul, ONGC, Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, and development agencies including UNICEF and World Health Organization. Graduates have been cited in case studies and media from the Hindustan Times, The Hindu, and Financial Express for contributions to cluster development in regions like Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka, and for fostering social entrepreneurship models similar to those advanced by Aravind Eye Care System and Barefoot College.

Category:Business schools in India Category:Organisations based in Ahmedabad