Bhubaneswar, July 27: Young entrepreneurs can look forward to a helping hand for their businesses with a proposed incubation and skill development centre coming up at Utkal University.

The centre, the foundation stone of which was laid yesterday, will train youngsters apart from providing infrastructure facilities to start-ups.

"The centre will train budding entrepreneurs in all sectors to set up socially relevant start-ups. To begin with, 10 students will be selected on the basis of impressive business models," said vice-chancellor Ashok Das.

The centre, to be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 1.74 crore, is being funded by Nalco and is expected to be completed by next April. Spread over 15,000sqft, it will provide free office space and Internet among other facilities. Apart from students, progressive farmers will also get to experiment with their ideas.

The varsity will also shortly sign an MoU with Incubation Business Hub, a Hyderabad-based Government of India organisation, to create skill development courses and trades. The centre will offer training for these.

"Courses of three and six-month durations will be introduced at the centre initially. Training will be provided in seven trades," said Jayant Parida, the centre's co-ordinator.

In a related development, the state government has expedited the land identification process to set up the varsity's rural campus at Chandikhole in Jajpur.

A team of five officials visited the identified 66.30-acre site at Siha panchayat to talk to the revenue officials.

The final report, along with blueprint and allocation proposal, will be submitted to the government and construction will start after its nod.