Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has proposed a new “PPP+PPP” model for international collaborations in sustainable startups and sustainable science ventures. Speaking at the meeting of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in NITI Aayog, Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized the importance of engaging the industry upfront in activities such as acceleration, where the industry can help map the sector and identify gaps that can be addressed by start-ups. He also highlighted the need for programs that brand Indian innovations internationally.
The minister stressed the importance of commercializing the output of start-ups to ensure their sustainability. He suggested that collaborating governments engage their respective private sectors to achieve sustainable goals. Dr Jitendra Singh also emphasized the importance of documenting the journey of start-ups and innovators, which can help others learn from their successes and failures.
Dr Jitendra Singh called for mentorship and partnerships with public, private sector, NGOs, academia, and institutions to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. He praised the Atal Innovation Mission for its holistic approach to creating a problem-solving innovative mindset in schools and universities, research institutions, and the private and MSME sector.
AIM to set up Atal Community Centers to boost Startups PPP Model – Union Minister
To promote the benefits of technology-led innovation in underserved regions of India, AIM is setting up Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACIC) with a unique partnership-driven model. Dr Jitendra Singh said that till date, 14 ACICs have been established by start-ups across the country, and the target of establishing 50+ ACICs will be achieved by March 2023.
The minister also applauded the establishment of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in schools nationwide, with 10,000 operational in 700 districts and over 7.5 million students having access to ATLS. AIM is also establishing 10,000 new ATLS in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, North-Eastern states, Aspirational Districts, Himalayan, and Island territories.
Referring to the Atal New India Challenge program, Dr Jitendra Singh said that it aims to support technology-based innovations that solve sectoral challenges of national importance and societal relevance. He pointed out that to enable all the initiatives to succeed, AIM has launched one of the largest mentor engagement and management programs, “Mentor India – The mentors of Change.” AIM has over 10,000 registrations nationwide on the AIM iNNONET portal, with 4,000+ of them allocated to ATLS and AICS.
Dr Jitendra Singh’s proposals for public-private partnerships and mentorship programs aim to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. With the establishment of Atal Community Innovation Centers and Atal Tinkering Labs, the Atal Innovation Mission is providing a platform for start-ups to address sectoral challenges of national importance and societal relevance.
