New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation and expansion of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog, allocating a budget of Rs. 2,750 crore for its extended tenure until March 31, 2028. This move underscores the government’s dedication to nurturing a robust innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, propelling India towards its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
AIM 2.0 builds on the accomplishments of its predecessor, which introduced initiatives such as Atal Tinkering Labs and Atal Incubation Centers, laying the groundwork for a burgeoning innovation environment. The next phase of AIM is designed to address existing gaps while scaling its successes by fostering collaboration with state governments, academia, industry, and communities. The mission aims to bolster India’s global competitiveness by driving innovation that generates high-quality jobs, advanced products, and impactful services across sectors.
Unlike the foundational approach of AIM 1.0, which focused on creating new infrastructure, AIM 2.0 takes a more strategic and targeted direction. This phase emphasizes expanding the pool of innovators and entrepreneurs, improving startup success rates, and enhancing the quality of outcomes. Initiatives include the Language Inclusive Program of Innovation, which aims to build ecosystems in India’s 22 scheduled languages, and the Frontier Program, which will develop customized templates for innovation in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, the North Eastern states, and Aspirational Districts. The program also envisions the establishment of 2,500 new Atal Tinkering Labs to support innovation at the grassroots level.
Efforts to strengthen the innovation throughput will include the Human Capital Development Program, designed to produce thousands of skilled professionals capable of sustaining and advancing the ecosystem. The Deeptech Reactor initiative will create a research sandbox to support startups focused on deep-tech solutions, requiring long-term investment and innovation. Additionally, the State Innovation Mission will enable states and Union Territories to develop ecosystems tailored to their unique strengths, while international collaborations will position India as a global leader in innovation by fostering partnerships with advanced nations and supporting global south countries through knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The mission also prioritizes improving outputs by increasing industry involvement through the Industrial Accelerator Program, which seeks to scale advanced startups in critical sectors through public-private partnerships. The Atal Sectoral Innovation Launchpads initiative will establish platforms for central ministries to collaborate with startups, ensuring innovation reaches key industry sectors.
AIM 2.0 signifies a decisive step toward realizing India’s potential as a global innovation hub. By integrating inclusivity, collaboration, and advanced strategic frameworks, the mission aims to drive economic growth, improve India’s standing on the Global Innovation Index, and contribute significantly to the nation’s development trajectory toward 2047.
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