For the first time, Govt is going to set up co-working space for startups

Catering to the huge demand, the Indian government has decided to set up a co-working space for startups.

The demand has come from Mangaluru and for the first time, the government will own a co-working space, which will have 3D printing and new-age digital infrastructure.

"We felt there was a great demand for a co-working space in Mangaluru. Many startups told us that they had to go to Bengaluru or other cities to access such facilities and infrastructure,” a senior official told ET.

The co-working space will be designed to accommodate 100 people and a team of officials is in talks with some of the Delhi-based co-working space owners.

The workstations will be made available at a price nearly half the market rate being charged by privately owned social workspaces.

Several ministries are being approached to help in setting up the space, for instance, the ministry of electronics and information technology has been requested for high-speed internet, 3D printing equipment, etc.

Once this model is set up, the government may also launch a patent facilitation cell.

"We will select the right people to run the place only after asking for suggestions from the start-ups themselves since it is an entirely new territory for the government to enter,” the senior official added.