Deputy Dean – Start up and Incubation (V-Hub)

Role Summary

The Deputy Dean – Startup & Incubation supports the Dean in driving the University’s innovation, incubation, and startup ecosystem. The role focuses on execution of strategy, industry and international engagement, startup mentoring, funding facilitation, and strengthening industry–academia partnerships aligned with institutional objectives.

Desired Skill Set

• Ability to assist in developing and implementing policies that strengthen industry–academia collaboration.

• Expertise in building and sustaining partnerships with industries, corporations, startups, universities, and government bodies.

• Experience in facilitating funding from industry collaborations, international grants, and research sponsorships for Innovation, Incubation, and Startups.

• Strong understanding of industry trends to align academic innovation and incubation activities with market needs.

• Strong ability to engage with international stakeholders and global innovation ecosystems.

• Familiarity with international education policies, accreditation frameworks, and regulatory compliance.

Essential Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering / computer applications / business administration or allied disciplines.

• Ph.D. in a relevant discipline is preferred but not mandatory.

• Teaching experience and/or extensive industry exposure is desirable.

Experience Requirements

• 10–15 years of combined experience in academia, research, industry collaboration, innovation, incubation, entrepreneurship, or international relations.

• At least 05 years at the level of Associate Professor / Senior Manager in Innovation/TBI or equivalent.

• Proven leadership experience in higher education institutions, incubation centers, industry partnerships, or global engagement initiatives related to Innovation and Incubation.

• Demonstrated experience in:

  • Industry–academic linkages

  • Corporate partnerships

  • Sponsored research and collaborative innovation initiatives

• Strong background in international education programs, student/faculty exchange initiatives, and global university alliances.

• A person of high energy, integrity, enthusiastic optimism, and perseverance to drive initiatives to successful outcomes.

Additional Desirable Qualifications

• Experience in technology transfer, startups, innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship development.

• Knowledge of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), patent filing, and commercialization.

• Multilingual proficiency is an added advantage.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategic Execution

• Support the Dean in executing the strategic vision for Incubation, aligned with institutional goals.

• Foster a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, incubation, and research commercialization.

• Assist in engaging with government agencies, industry leaders, venture capitalists, and startup ecosystems.

• Support identification and mobilization of funding, grants, and sponsorships.

Incubation & Startup Support

• Oversee incubation operations and guide startups from ideation to market entry.

• Coordinate mentorship programs with industry experts, alumni, and investors.

• Facilitate access to seed funding, accelerators, grants, and investor networks.

• Ensure availability of co-working spaces, labs, prototyping facilities, and technical support.

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Programs

• Develop and manage entrepreneurship training programs, workshops, bootcamps, and hackathons.

• Promote innovation challenges, startup competitions, and commercialization opportunities.

• Collaborate with academic departments to integrate entrepreneurship and innovation into curricula.

• Support patent filing, technology transfer, and commercialization of research outputs.

Industry Collaboration & Networking

• Facilitate MoUs and strategic partnerships with industries, startups, incubators, and innovation hubs.

• Engage with venture capital firms, angel investors, and government funding agencies.

• Organize demo days, startup expos, networking events, and panel discussions.

• Promote internships and co-op opportunities within startup ecosystems.

Policy, Governance & Administration

• Assist in developing and implementing policies related to incubation, funding, and IP management.

• Ensure compliance with institutional, regulatory, and government guidelines.

• Monitor program performance using data-driven evaluation metrics.

• Support budgeting, financial planning, and effective resource utilization.

Mentorship & Student Engagement

• Mentor student and faculty entrepreneurs.

• Support student-led startup and innovation initiatives.

• Promote an inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Technology & Digital Innovation

• Encourage innovation leveraging AI, IoT, Blockchain, Web3, and emerging technologies.

• Support digital-first and technology-driven startup models.

• Promote use of data analytics and market intelligence tools for startup growth.