Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates Atal Incubation Centre in Abu Dhabi

• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Atal Incubation Centre at IIT Delhi's Abu Dhabi campus on September 10.

• It is the first-ever AIC hosted in an Indian university overseas. 

• Pradhan said that the AIC at the IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus will nurture joint startups and research-led ventures by both Indian and UAE innovators and also promote bilateral collaboration in deep tech, AI, clean energy, healthcare and other sectors of mutual importance. 

• The AIC providing world-class incubation facilities will also act as a gateway to the Middle East markets for Indian startups and innovators.

What is Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)?

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), set up in 2016, is NITI Aayog’s flagship initiative to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in schools, colleges and society at large and promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.

• AIM has taken a holistic approach to ensure creation of a problem-solving innovative mindset in schools and creating an ecosystem of  entrepreneurship in universities, research institutions, private and MSME sector. 

• In November 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the continuation of Atal Innovation Mission, with an enhanced scope of work and allocated budget of Rs 2,750 crore, till March 31, 2028.

• AIM 2.0 is designed to strengthen India’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in three ways by increasing input, by improving the success rate or ‘throughput’, and by improving the quality of ‘output’.

Key programs under AIM: 

• Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs): Innovation spaces established in schools (grades 6–12) to nurture creativity among students through hands-on tools such as 3D printers and other advanced technologies. Over 10,000 ATLs have been set up in schools to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young minds.

• Atal Incubation Centres (AICs): They are business incubators established by AIM at universities, institutions and corporates to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among young innovators of the country. ATCs aim to foster world-class innovation and support dynamic entrepreneurs, who want to build scalable and sustainable enterprises. AIM has successfully operationalized 72 AICs across India. These AIC enable startups by providing technical facilities, resource-based support, mentorship, funding support, partnerships and networking, co-working spaces and lab facilities among others. Over 3,500 startups are incubated at these AICs and have created more than 32000 jobs in the ecosystem.

• Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs): To promote the benefits of technology led innovation to the unserved/underserved regions of India including Tier 2, Tier 3 cities, aspirational districts, tribal, hilly and coastal areas, AIM is setting up Atal Community Innovation Centres with a unique partnership driven model wherein AIM would grant up to Rs 2.5 crores to an ACIC subject to a partner proving equal or greater matching funding. So far 14 ACICs have been established across the country.

• Atal New India Challenges (ANIC): This initiative encourages technology-driven solutions to national challenges by offering funding, mentorship, and support for innovative ideas. ANIC solicits innovations in the prototype stage and supports the selected startups throughout the commercialisation stage over the course of 12-18 months by funding up to Rs 1 crore and other associated support.

• Mentor India: A network of over 6,200 mentors from diverse sectors dedicated to guiding entrepreneurs and innovators in various AIM programmes.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)