(ANS – Margao) – The Don Bosco Job Placement Network (JPN) and the Forum for Innovation Incubation Research & Entrepreneurship (FiiRE) have launched a nationwide partnership to help vocational and technical graduates become entrepreneurs.
The collaboration was formalized during a high-level meeting on July 20 at FiiRE, the Department of Science and Technology-backed incubator based at Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda. The initiative seeks to reduce dependence on low-paying, high-attrition entry-level jobs by equipping young people with the skills, mentorship, and resources needed to establish sustainable enterprises.
The meeting was attended by FiiRE Chief Executive Officer Mr. Kiran, Don Bosco Job Placement Network representative Fr. Gabriel, SDB, and Regional Coordinator Noah Rodrigues. During the discussion, the leaders agreed to identify promising entrepreneurial talent from Don Bosco’s nationwide network and connect them with incubation opportunities.
Operating across 11 Salesian provinces, the Don Bosco Job Placement Network maintains a database of more than 65,000 candidates trained through technical institutions and Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The partnership aims to harness the technical abilities and innovative potential of these young people by providing pathways to venture creation instead of conventional employment.
Under the collaboration, selected candidates will gain access to FiiRE’s advanced prototyping laboratories, experienced industry mentors, and startup funding channels. These include government-backed initiatives such as NIDHI Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR), PRAYAS, and the Startup India program, which enable aspiring entrepreneurs to develop, test, and scale innovative business ideas.
Highlighting FiiRE’s achievements, Mr. Kiran noted that the incubator has supported 251 startups, facilitated the creation of more than 600 jobs, assisted in filing 28 patents, and enabled startups to raise more than ₹162 crore in funding.
As part of the initiative, the existing Don Bosco job portal will be upgraded into a technology-driven platform for talent identification, entrepreneurial skill assessment, and startup onboarding. In the first phase, online orientation sessions for regional directors will be followed by campus immersion programs, prototype development workshops, and business idea pitching events.
The long-term vision is to establish Section 8 incubation centers within Don Bosco ITIs and technical institutions across the country. In this way, the partnership aims to embed incubation facilities within vocational education campuses, fostering a nationwide ecosystem of youth-led enterprises, creating employment opportunities, and promoting innovation in local communities beyond India’s major urban centers.
Source: Don Bosco South Asia