Bengaluru, Oct 16 (IANS): Indian IT industry's representative body Nasscom has announced roping in of social media giant Facebook for its innovation programme to make the creative developer community build the next billion applications (apps) and mobile websites in the country.

Nasscom and Facebook together announced "Leaders Building for the Next Billion Programme" aimed at inspiring large-scale innovation for new internet users, a Nasscom statement said on Thursday.

The new programme supports and spotlights developers building innovative apps and mobile websites.

The 'Next Billion Programme' will propel Nasscom 10,000 Startup initiative which aims to incubate, fund and provide support to 10,000 technology startups in India by 2023, the statement added.

Under the six-month 'Next Billion Programme', Nasscom 10,000 Startups will select 10 developers demonstrating commitment to build applications for new-to-internet populations.

Winning developers will receive technical, marketing and financial support and leadership skills along with connections to industry leaders, CEOs, thought leaders, venture capitalists, ecosystem evangelists, social change leaders, funders and media, the statement said.

Nasscom has 1,800 Indian and multinational companies as members who operate in software services, software products, consulting services, BPM, e-commerce and web services, engineering services and animation and gaming domains.