Andhra Pradesh launches AP-FIRST to boost research and technology innovation

The Andhra Pradesh government has established AP-FIRST, a Section 8 company, to promote research, innovation and technology commercialisation. Backed by ₹5 crore seed funding, it will support collaboration across academia, industry and government in strategic technology sectors

Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday established a company, AP-FIRST, to promote research, innovation and technology commercialisation in the state.

Kantilal Dande, principal secretary, Environment & Forests Department, said the company will focus on aerospace & defence, space technologies, AI & cyber security, semiconductors, quantum technologies and healthcare & biotechnology.

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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 issue orders for establishment of AP-FIRST (Andhra Pradesh- Future Innovation, Research, Science & Technology) as a company under Section-8 of 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 the 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 Government of India (GoI) institutions and departments, among other initiatives.