Bengaluru: Mentorship programme for innovators launched; aims to find sustainable solutions for rural connectivity challenges, bridge digital divide

To empower early-stage innovators, researchers and start-ups, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) launched Future Networks Empowerment through Mentorship (FNEM) – Powering CTU (Connecting the Unconnected) at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIITB).

The FNEM programme aims to mentor innovators who work to find sustainable solutions for rural connectivity challenges and bridge the digital divide. The launch also marked the commencement of the inaugural cohort of the FNEM Powering CTU programme in India. 

A release from IIITB said through the programme’s 1,000-Day LAMP (Learning, Action, Mentorship & Practice) journey, participants will receive structured mentorship, technical guidance, and entrepreneurial support to transform innovative ideas into scalable, real-world solutions for rural and underserved communities.

Ruolin Zhou, co-chair of IEEE CTU, said, “By pairing CTU innovators with experienced mentors at the FNEM, the programme is helping transform promising ideas into practical and scalable solutions. Through this 1,000-day mentorship journey, we aim to empower innovators to develop sustainable technologies that expand connectivity, bridge the global digital divide, and connect the unconnected. The day-long programme also provided a brief overview of five modules designed exclusively as part of LAMP curriculum and covering topics such as technological entrepreneurship, technology skill development, business skill development, community and user engagement, and local context and regulatory navigation.”