The IN-SPAN Center of Excellence traces its origins to the IN-SPAN Program, a bilateral initiative jointly organized by the Embassy of India in Kathmandu and IITM Pravartak. The program brought together 24 high-potential startups from across Nepal for a two-month immersive capacity-building and ecosystem exposure experience in India.
Through this program, our founders engaged directly with India's leading startup ecosystem stakeholders — research institutions, incubation centers, policy experts, and deep-tech enablers. Beyond technical exposure, the cohort gained firsthand insight into the institutional frameworks, infrastructure, and collaborative culture that enable innovation to scale sustainably.
Upon returning to Nepal, the cohort recognized a shared responsibility: to institutionalize the momentum generated by the program rather than allow its impact to remain limited to a single cohort. This recognition led to the collective proposal for the establishment of the IN-SPAN Center of Excellence — a permanent, founder-led institution designed to anchor long-term bilateral collaboration between Nepal and India.
The initiative has since received encouraging support from key stakeholders. IITM Pravartak's leadership, including CEO Mr. Shankar Raman, Head of New Initiatives Mr. Rajendra Mootha, and Senior Consultant Mr. Srikanth Valuthur, have expressed interest in providing technical collaboration and co-incubation support, drawing on the IITM Research Park model. Additionally, His Excellency Mr. Munu Mahawar noted that a structured institution in Nepal would create a meaningful platform for Nepali startups to grow within their own ecosystem while remaining connected to bilateral innovation networks.
The Center represents the natural evolution of the IN-SPAN Program: from a time-bound capacity-building initiative to a self-sustaining institutional platform serving current and future generations of founders, researchers, and innovators.
