SMEs can enhance RoI with 'Planet NI Program': Victor Mieres

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Saurabh Gupta | 10 Oct, 2014
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can enhance their productivity, reduce development time and improve Return-on-Investment (RoI) with 'Planet NI program', the Vice President of the Emerging Markets for National Instruments (NI), Victor Mieres said in an exclusive email interview to SME Times.

Excerpts of the interview...

What exactly is the 'Planet NI program'?
Victor Mieres: Planet NI is a program whose mission is to empower engineers in emerging countries to achieve sustainable prosperity by providing increased access to NI technology. Our strategy to achieve this mission is by investing in the local and regional engineering innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems. In addition to several initiatives, the program has three main focus areas which are private public partnerships, prototyping labs/incubation centers and providing direct support to SMEs. By doing this, we fulfill the program's mission while we grow the adoption of NI's platforms in new markets.

As I got, this program is to empower engineers by supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. So any SME can get the benefits of this program or it is for some specific types of enterprises? Or what qualifications do one need to participate in this program?
Victor Mieres: Established small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) as well as individuals and startups in the early entrepreneurial stages can qualify. For SMEs in India to receive direct support from NI, they must submit an application form through our web site about their innovation and support needed. Once they go through an interview process, they will be then approved and inducted as a part of a development program with mutually agreed milestones. Some important factors we consider during this evaluation include business plan, level of innovation, socioeconomic impact of the new product/service, and how well it works with NI technology.

What are the benefits of the Planet NI program?
Victor Mieres:
Increased access to NI technology and world-class training and certification programs
Enhanced productivity, reduced development time and improved Return-on-Investment
Access to our world-class training and certification programs
Greater visibility and credibility in the technology market space
Access to the worldwide NI partner and customer network

Do you provide some kind of financial assistance to SMEs too?
Victor Mieres: No, our focus is not to provide any monetary/financial assistance. The Planet NI Program is designed to help SMEs to face today's increasing competitiveness in the market and provides them the state-of-the-art technology tools that can improve productivity and effectives. It goes far beyond giving a copy of LabVIEW or a lab donation. NI tools require a complete ecosystem of products including PCs, power, training, access to technical support, and technical consultations which we provide.

How can a SME owner apply for this program? And also how anyone can find the local contact information about the program?
Victor Mieres: As mentioned in your 2nd question, In order for SMEs in India to receive direct support from NI, they must submit an application form through our web site about their innovation and support needed. They will then go through an interview process and then recruited as a part of the development program with mutually agreed milestones. The application form can be found online: http://natinstindia.com/national_instruments/Planet-NI-Program-SME.html
In addition to the above, you can find general information about the program here - http://india.ni.com/planetni
For any other questions please email planetni.india@ni.com

How are you creating awareness among small entrepreneurs about your program?
Victor Mieres: We work with our local offices in the emerging markets to leverage their existing integrated marketing efforts and channels to reach new SME's, start ups and entrepreneurs. We create awareness through physical events, hands on sessions, partner events and on site consultative sessions. We also encourage our partners to talk to our relevant target audiences about the Planet NI program and its benefits through their marketing channels.