Source: PIB
Context:
The Union Education Minister of India inaugurated India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre at the IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi campus during his UAE visit in September 2025.
About the Atal Innovation Centre (Overseas)
- What it is: Premier innovation hub established outside India under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).
- Objective:
- Promote innovation, research, and entrepreneurship among students and young professionals.
- Strengthen India–UAE collaboration in education, sustainability, and technology-driven solutions.
- Functions:
- Incubate start-ups and mentor innovators.
- Provide infrastructure and labs for advanced research.
- Encourage student exchange, teacher training, and skill-building programs.
- Serve as a bridge for global knowledge-sharing and innovation networks.
About Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)
- What it is: Flagship initiative by the Government of India to create a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Implementing Agency: NITI Aayog.
- Key Features:
- Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs):
- Labs in schools for Classes 6–12 to learn robotics, IoT, 3D printing, electronics.
- Over 10,000 labs established across India.
- Atal Incubation Centres (AICs):
- Business incubators at universities and corporates.
- Provide mentoring, funding, networking, and infrastructure.
- 72 AICs supporting 3,500+ start-ups, generating 32,000+ jobs.
- Entrepreneurial Ecosystem:
- Focus on sectors like HealthTech, FinTech, AgriTech, EdTech, Food Processing, Drone & Space Tech, AR/VR.
- Supported over 1,000 women-led start-ups.
- Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs):
