CKS, Esri India Sign MoU To Launch Programme In Geospatial Technology Skilling

Indian Public Policy Think Tank Centre for Knowledge Sovereignty (CKS) and Esri India Technologies, an end-to-end Geographic Information System (GIS) solution, joined hands to launch the ‘Master Mentors Geo-Enabling Indian Scholars’ (MMGEIS) programme in the country on Monday.

The programme targets students from 8th grade to undergraduate levels and aims to make India a global skilling and innovation hub for geospatial technology. The programme will also work towards fostering a strong IP framework to enable more patents from India in its journey towards becoming a global geospatial innovation hub, according to the official statement.

To enable up to 1 lakh students per year, the programme is designed to spread geospatial awareness at the school and college levels and set the stage for next-generation geospatial research and innovation by mentoring promising students under the guidance of leading scientists and innovators.

Member of the Space Commission and Former Chairman of ISRO, AS Kiran Kumar said that the introduction of the Master Mentor Geo-enabling programme marks a significant step in India’s journey towards becoming a leading innovator and will lead to a surge in patents filed by young Indians, showcasing their creativity and the programme's effectiveness.

These patents are expected to cover a range of fields from environmental solutions to technological advancements, which will highlight India’s growing stature in the global arena.

Secretary of the Centre for Knowledge Sovereignty, Vinit Goenka, “We aim to nurture the personal growth of students by fostering curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Ultimately, our goal is to establish a robust foundation that inspires our children to become innovators and make meaningful contributions to the development of our nation.”

Whereas, Managing Director of Esri India, Agendra Kumar said that GIS technologies are poised to play a critical role in India’s development trajectory with applications across sectors like Urban Planning, Natural Resource Management, Agriculture and Land Records, Disaster Management and others to improve the lives of citizens. 

The MMGEIS programme will play a crucial role in achieving our goal of making India a developed country by 2047 and enhancing India's presence on the world stage, Kumar added.

The initiative shifts geospatial innovation to significantly enhance India's future standing on the innovation index, stimulating intellectual property creation and, in turn, driving economic growth and societal progress, the statement said.