Launched in 1983, EDII is a National Resource Institute in entrepreneurship education, research, training, capacity building, institution-building, MSME growth and startup incubation. The Institute has been set up with the support of premier financial institutions, viz; the IDBI Bank Ltd; ICICI Ltd; IFCI Ltd; State Bank of India and with the backing of the Government of Gujarat. EDII stands on the belief that ‘Entrepreneurs are not just born but can also be created by training and well-conceived interventions’.

The Institute was set up during times when there were more disbelievers than believers in entrepreneurship. Since then, it has evolved, curating successful training models, most of which are being replicated widely. The Institute successfully established the credibility of entrepreneurship as a development tool and went on to get recognized as the CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India.

EDII began by conceptualising Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDPs), and by launching a tested training model for New Enterprise Creation, implemented even today, as EDII-EDP model. Gradually, EDII moved on to designing and implementing multiple programmes and replicable development models for diverse target groups leading them to becoming successful entrepreneurs and skilled individuals. The Institute also undertook the task of institution building by setting up entrepreneurship development centres in several states of the country including the newly set up states/UTs of Goa, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh etc.  This effort was broad-based internationally too, with the setting up of Entrepreneurship Development Centres in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Uzbekistan and Rwanda.

Today EDII works in a collaborative mode with noted corporates as well as Government Ministries / Departments in implementing mega projects with resounding results in terms of New Enterprise Creation and generation of livelihood options.  Additionally, the Institute’s association with Institutes of national importance and premier organizations of the country, and other regulatory bodies is also generating commendable results in terms of deep-rooting entrepreneurship across sectors.

EDII activities and projects have been categorised under the Departments of Policy Advocacy, Knowledge and Research, Entrepreneurship Education; Government Projects; CSR Partnerships; Innovation and Technology (DIT); International Outreach (DIO) and SME Development Business. Institute’s Technology Incubation Centre, CrAdLE (Centre for Advancing and Launching Enterprises), set up with the support of Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, is focused on incubating start-ups in the potential areas of food/agri business, renewable energy and healthcare. 

The Institute also houses various specialized centres focused on diverse aspects of entrepreneurship. These include the Centres for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Family-Managed Businesses; National Education Policy – 2020 Implementation; School Entrepreneurship; Rural Entrepreneurship; Skill Development; Temple-Based Economy; Foreign Languages and Business Practices; MSME Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab; and Business Incubation Centres.

The Institute is committed to the goal of boosting entrepreneurship across segments and sectors through innovative models, projects and programmes, thus effectively leading the country towards the mandate of Viksit Bharat.