~ Collaboration to provide MSMEs and startups in Gujarat with technology, mentorship, and skilling support — building a hyperlocal ecosystem for Viksit Gujarat and Viksit Bharat @ 2047 ~
Mehsana, Gujarat | October 16, 2025: The Government of Gujarat’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) and the Wadhwani Foundation, a global not-for-profit dedicated to accelerating job creation through entrepreneurship, skilling, and innovation announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support o accelerated growth of MSMEs and startups in Gujarat. The MoU was signed in the presence of Shri Bhupendrabhai Rajnikant Patel, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat, at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference – North Gujarat, being held at Ganpat University, Mehsana.
Through this strategic partnership, CED and Wadhwani Foundation will work together to provide Gujarat’s MSMEs and startups with AI-powered platforms and structured programs to drive growthfrom emerging local and global opportunities. The collaboration will focus on the following key pillars:
Plataforma de crescimento com tecnologia de IA para MPMEs
CED will publish all its content on Wadhwani Foundation’s AI-powered “Virtual Growth Accelerator”, providing MSMEs across Gujarat com access to an expansive knowledge and resource base that can support them through their growth journey.
Apoio a startups e MPMEs premiadas
The Foundation will provide winners and other participants de MSME and Startup awards recognized by the Industries Commission during Vibrant Gujarat 2025–26 com access to structured programs to help ventures prepare for and progress through traction and scaling stages.
Desenvolvimento de fornecedores em setores prioritários
The Foundation will assist CED com vendor development through structured capability development and assisted growth programs to prepare businesses to meet the needs of upstream buyers in high-growth sectors tais como defence, medical devices, clean energy, and others
Qualificação e criação de empregos alinhadas ao setor
The Foundation will strengthen CED’s skilling initiatives by providing students in ITIs, VTIs, and Polytechnics with relevant career counselling and soft skills training, and by connecting this talent to MSMEs and startups. The Commissioner of Industries will list open entry-level roles on the Foundation’s platform, enabling smooth placement support for Gujarat’s youth.
Falando na ocasião, Shri Swaroop P, IAS, Industries Commissioner, Gandhinagar said: “CED is proud to partner with Wadhwani Foundation at this pivotal moment for Gujarat’s MSMEs and startups. By integrating technology, mentorship, and skilling into our programs, this partnership will strengthen Gujarat’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and unlock new opportunities for growth, competitiveness, and jobs.”
Meetul Patel, President – Wadhwani Entrepreneurship at Wadhwani Foundation, said: "Gujarat has always been a land of bold ideas and fearless enterprise. We are committed to helping unlock the full potential this presents for a Viksit Gujarat by deepening our engagement with government, academia, and industry in the State, starting with Mehsana and North Gujarat. Our goal is to democratize access to the coaching, skilling, expertise, information, and tools needed for business and talent growth. To be of value, these resources need to have local relevance, and we will partner closely with local ecosystems to curate what is valuable and provide access through our always-on self-serve AI-powered growth enablement platform and structured entrepreneurial capability development, assisted venture growth, and employee talent development programs."
The Wadhwani Foundation is already actively engaged in supporting Gujarat’s growth journey by enabling a powerful job creation and job fulfilment engine though its portfolio of platforms and programs spanning Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Skilling which
In addition, the Foundation is partnering closely com the government on other key innovation-centred iniciativas to drive growth
And, we will soon launch new programs in Gujarat para help develop smaller ventures and help them grow
The MoU with CED marks the next step in building local ecosystems in Gujarat that bring together expertise and resources para accelerate business growth e create jobs, fulfilling the aspirations of Enterprises e Youth and contributing to the achievement of Viksit Gujarat and Viksit Bharat @ 2047.