The state information technology department has received a total of 59 applications from start-up firms seeking space in the upcoming incubation centre on the ninth floor of the city's Biscomaun Towers.

Applications have reached from many parts of the country, impressing the department. Officials said a committee formed by the department would select around 35 to 40 proposals and allot spaces to them.

"The total floor area is 11,666sqft. The state government's first such move has elicited an impressive response. The incubation centre, which is expected to start right after the Assembly elections, would provide a platform to the start-ups to work, ideate, grow and expand their businesses with support from all kinds of quarters," said a department official.

The office holders at the Bihar Entrepreneurs' Association (BEA) are closely working with the department to set up this centre.

Abhishek Singh, the BEA secretary-general, said: "The applications have come in from companies in the IT, healthcare, telecom, app development, handicraft, agriculture inputs, high-level programming and coding sectors. For example, Finland-based mfore India Solutions Private Limited, a telecom company, has sent an application, requesting for space in the incubation centre. The response has been quite good. The advertisements were floated in May and the last date for filing applications was June 25."

Sharing details about the incubation centre, Singh said: "A total of 2,000sqft would be reserved for conference room, cafeteria, business centre and reception. The rest would have cubicles and workstations for the chosen firms to work and develop ideas with the help of experts from different fields with whom the department and the BEA are in contact with.

"An expert committee, comprising people from industries, information technology and academics, would select the start-ups on the basis of their presentation and an interview. The space given would be for three years. The office would have all facilities, including free WiFi."

Sources said they were working fast to ensure that the allotments were complete by the middle of August.

"The elections are nearing and the model code of conduct would come into force soon. Hence, the department has to work fast. Once the space has been alloted, construction work on the ninth floor would start. We hope it is completed within a couple of months," said another department official.