Pune: The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), in collaboration with La Fondation Dassault Systemes India, celebrated the grand finale of its flagship program for school students, ‘Made in 3D – Seed the Future Entrepreneurs,’ under the Student Entrepreneurship Program (SEP) season 2023-24. This event marked the culmination of an eight-month journey aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among young minds across India.
The 2023-24 season of the program emphasized connecting students with Krishi Vigyan Kendras, leading to a significant number of projects focused on the rural ecosystem. From 140 schools nationwide, the top 12 teams demonstrated remarkable innovation in product design, along with a keen understanding of finance, business, and marketing strategies in their startup pitches.
The award ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries including Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director of the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog; Deepak NG, Managing Director of Dassault Systemes India; Sudarshan Mogasale, CEO of Dassault Systemes Solutions Lab; and Jayesh Rathore, Technology Advisor of Akshara International School, Pune. Dr. Chintan Vaishnav delivered an inspiring address, highlighting the importance of innovation in the Indian education landscape and the program’s role in nurturing future innovators and entrepreneurs.
Securing the coveted first place were students from Dada Maharaj Natekar Vidyalay, Chikhali, a village school in Maharashtra. Orchid School, Pune, clinched the second spot, while Springdales School, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi, secured the third position. These achievements underscore the transformative impact of the program in fostering India’s next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.
Jointly organized by AIM, NITI Aayog, and La Fondation Dassault Systemes, the program aims to instill an innovation and entrepreneurship mindset among school students across India. Top-performing teams from the ATL Marathon conducted by AIM are nominated to participate in this prestigious initiative.
In this program, selected schools form a team of six students and a teacher to create a pseudo-startup. As a startup, students identify a dream product to address challenges around them, design it using 3D digital technology, manufacture it, and create a marketing campaign, including a product brochure, advertisement video, and pricing strategy.
