Page 24 - NIS English November16-30

Cover Story Atal Innovation Mission

INDIA: THE NEW GROWTH ENGINE

Let's understand these points, what is the approach Atal Innovation Mission
of creating a bridge connecting science to innovation
by enhancing innovation and entrepreneurship so that
the four pillars needed for development move forward
together and the dream of New India is realised n Problem n Idea n Solution

Atal Tinkering Labs Atal Incubation Centre (AIC)
(Innovation at school level) (Creating Ecosystem for Entrepreneurship)
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Target Established include Assam Agricultural University,
in 10,000 schools 5400, rest by March 2021 Centers Banasthali University, BHU and other
private institutions' set up
Rs 20 Lakh per school aid is
given

l With a vision to cultivate one million children in In-
dia as 'Neoteric Innovators’, AIM established the Atal
Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) in schools across India
l Its objectives were to foster curiosity, creativity and
imagination in young minds, and inculcate skills such
as design mindset, computational thinking, adaptive
learning, physical computing etc. l At the university, NGO, SME and Corporate industry
l ATL provides a work space where young minds can levels, AIM is setting up world-class AICs that would
give shape to their ideas through hands-on do-it-your- trigger and enable successful growth of sustainable
self mode, and learn innovation skills. Under this, stu- startups in every sector /state of the country
dents from Class 6 to 10 are given a chance to work l AICs were established to create world-class incuba-
with tools and equipment to understand the concepts tion facilities in subject specific areas such as manu-
of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) facturing, transport, energy, health, education, agricul-
l AIM provides a grant-in-aid of Rs 20 Lakh to each ture, water and sanitation etc.
school for the ATL l AIM will provide a grant-in-aid of up to Rs 10 Crore for
l It includes a one-time establishment cost of Rs 10 a maximum period of 5 years to cover the capital and
Lakh and operational expenses of Rs 10 Lakh for a operational expenditures to establish the AIC
maximum period of 5 years to each ATL l The applicant would have to provide at least 10,000
l Till July, more than 5,100 ATLs had been established sq. ft. of ready-to-use, built-up space, for the exclusive
in more than 660 districts across the country reaching use of the AIC
more than 2 million students l Women-led incubators and entrepreneurial startups
l It aims to reach 10,000 schools by March 2021 are strongly encouraged by AIM. So far, AIM has set
up 68 incubation centres

l Proposed focus areas include underserved/unserved regions of Tier-1/
metro cities, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, Smart Cities, Aspirational districts, the
North-East, J&K and Rural and Tribal regions of India
Atal Community Innovation Centre: l The programme is directed to encourage the spirit of innovation through
l Universities, colleges, ITIs and voluntary organizations working in the field
of science may become part for Pre-Incubation Centres in these areas

solution-driven design thinking to serve the society
l It will focus on underserved/unserved regions of the country which at pres-
ent lack a vibrant startup and innovation ecosystem
l It offers unique and incentivised solutions which will encourage students,
researchers or any individual/group of individuals to ideate and design nov-
el solutions

22 New India Samachar