Omidyar Network India and IIC launch fellowship programme

International Innovation Corps, a programme by the University of Chicago Trust in India, has launched a fellowship in association with impact investment firm Omidyar Network India.

The fellowship is designed to support new talents to rethink and structure laws and practices governing emerging technologies in both public and private sectors in India, a press statement said.

The programme will recruit ten individuals with an undergraduate degree in engineering and 2-5 years of work experience, looking to explore a new career opportunity.

The fellows will be placed for two years with think-tanks and other independent organisations that engage in the technology policy discussions in the country.

“The IIC program nurtures its fellows by providing a strong support system, a cohort-based peer group, regular feedback and guidance, and opportunities to work on important initiatives with high-level stakeholders. We have noticed a growing interest among young professionals that are passionate about both technology and its impact on society, to choose a career path that speaks to both,” Shriya Sethi, Director at IIC said.

The young leaders in the technology-policy fellowship will focus on three areas -- exploration of a critical new sector, engagement with a wider tech ecosystem and evolution as a professional.

“As highlighted by the current crisis, tech has also opened up risks and challenges such as algorithmic bias, lack of privacy, digital exclusion, misinformation and online hate speech. These are difficult questions that will benefit from being explored by some of the brightest young minds of our country,” Shilpa Kumar, investment partner at Omidyar Network India said.

Omidyar Network India exited four portfolio companies in 2019, apart from a partial exit from news and local video content platform Dailyhunt. All three exits were facilitated by the acquisition of the portfolio companies by enterprises. ONI makes equity investments in early-stage companies and assigns grants to non-profits in the areas of digital identity, financial inclusion, education, emerging technology, governance and citizen engagement.