Atal Innovation Mission NITI Aayog
Schemes

Atal Innovation Mission NITI Aayog: Transforming Innovation & Entrepreneurship

AIM or Atal Innovation Mission NITI Aayog is a useful initiative launched by the Niti Ayog to boost innovation and entrepreneurship across key sectors, educational, business, research, etc. Atal Innovation Mission objective is to encourage innovative activities among young individuals to bring out creative solutions that will lead the nation towards growth and advancement. Various empowering programs including Atal Tinkering Labs, Atal Incubation Centers, Atal New India Challenges, and Atal Grand Challenges have been started to support the initiative. 

If you are interested in knowing more about Atal Innovation Mission and its benefits, delve into this blog to get comprehensive information about the scheme, including features, application process, required documents, eligibility criteria, and much more. 

ParticularsDetails
Government initiativeAtal Innovation Mission
Set up byNITI Aayog
Atal Innovation Mission launch date 2016
Atal Innovation Mission objectiveTo foster innovation and entrepreneurship

Atal Innovation Mission Niti Aayog: Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Introduced in 2016, the Atal Innovation Mission is designed to promote an innovative and entrepreneurial environment through monetary support, guidance, and mentorship. It serves as a platform, offering self-employment opportunities to emerging entrepreneurs to build up their businesses. Additionally, through necessary guidance and mentorship, it helps startups to expand their business. As part of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the country, it equips individuals with the all essential tools, and technology to develop a successful business. 

Key Programs Under Atal Innovation Mission1.0

There are four key initiatives, launched under the Atal Innovation Mission that formed significant parts to fulfill the different objectives set for achieving the desired goals. 

1. Atal Tinkering Labs

Under this program, young individuals are provided opportunities to try their hands with tools and types of equipment to gain a better understanding of concepts in technical subjects like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Additionally, it includes building Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATLs) to impart practical education and conducting regional/ national level competitions, exhibitions, and workshops to foster curiosity, creativity, and imagination in young individuals. 

2. Atal Incubation Centres

In this segment, new incubation centers known as Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) were planned to build to help start-ups to sustain and gain huge benefits. These incubation centers are integrated with modern infrastructure to offer advanced learning. Besides, these centers house industry experts, providing guidance and training to startups to nurture and flourish in the market. Various areas such as manufacturing, transport, energy, health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation, etc. are covered under this initiative. 

3. Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACICs)

These innovation centers are designed for disadvantaged regions, serving to foster innovation in Tier 2/3 cities, tribal areas, etc. The objective of these innovation centers is to uncover the leadership potential in youth through various action steps, including creating fellowship opportunities, awareness platforms, conferences and workshops, dialogues, etc. Thus, offering young individuals with required resources to create systems that could bring a meaningful change. To implement this initiative, Rs. 2.5 crores was planned to be granted to ACIC, depending upon the partner offering equal or more funding. 

4. Atal New India Challenges and Atal Grand Challenges

It has started to foster technology-led innovations in areas that are nationally important like Renewable Energies, Energy Storage, Climate-smart precision agriculture, Transportation, Education, Healthcare using Robotic, Universal drinking water, Swachh Bharat, IOT technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Augmented and Virtual reality, Battery Technologies, etc. Under this, qualified applicants can get up to Rs. 1 crore for Atal New India Challenges and an extended sum of up to Rs 30 crore for Atal Grand Challenges. In addition, collaborations are made with corporations and other institutions to bring new challenges to start new products and services in the areas mentioned above. 

5. Mentor India

It facilitates joining hands with academia, industries, NGOs, and other people to enlarge the scope of innovation. Following this, the largest Mentoring network, known as Mentor India is started, comprising approx. 6200+ Industry professionals guiding emerging entrepreneurs at Atal Tinkering Labs and AIC Incubators/startups.  

How to Register for Atal Incubation Centers?

To register for Atal Incubation Centers online, follow the step-by-step process that is mentioned below: 

  • First, click on this link https://aimapp2.aim.gov.in/ to open the official website, and before making an application, go through the Guidelines related to establishing Atal Incubation Centres under the Atal Innovation Mission. A few sections of the Guidelines might be changed according to the AIM’s discretion. 
  • After reading the guidelines thoroughly, complete the signup process by entering your email address and Institution’s name. 
  • As you conclude the signup process, you will get a password on your email address. It is recommended to go through your spam folders too. In case, you want to change your password, you can send a request on the portal. 
  • Now, you can log in through the email and the received password and open the homepage. 
  • On the homepage, choose the tab Atal Incubation Centre available at the top to start the application. 
  • Now, enter the required details which also include your requirement for AIC or EIC. 
  • After filling in all required details, submit your application. No changes are allowed to be made after submission. 

How to Download Your Application for Atal Incubation Centers?

To download your application submitted for Atal Incubation Centers, check out the steps given below: 

  • In the first step, visit the official website by tapping on the link  https://aim.gov.in/aic.php
  • Now, log in through your registered email address and password.
  • Choose the tab of Atal Incubation Centre located at the top to check your application or to print the submitted application.
  • On the same page, you will get a unique ID code that can be used for future reference. 

Atal Innovation Mission 2.0

Atal Innovation Mission 2.0 was started in 2024, enlarging the scope of Atal Innovation Mission 1.0. For this mission, Rs.2,750 crore is allocated under the budget for the period till March 31, 2028. In AIM 1.0, steps were taken to set up an ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship, while AIM 2.0 is a broader initiative with expanded programs to fill the gap and maximize its benefits for the greater population. Scaling the efforts taken under AIM 1.0, it intends to sustain and strengthen efforts related to India’s innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Note: India has the 39th rank on the Global Innovation Index and it is listed as the third-largest start-up ecosystem globally. 

Major Action Steps to Execute AIM 2.0

To achieve the desired outcomes, AIM 2.0 will be executed in three different ways. 

  • Expanding output (i.e. Assimilating more innovators and entrepreneurs)
  • Enhancing the success rate or ‘throughput’ (i.e., empowering startups to flourish)
  • Augmenting the quality of ‘output’ (Creating better jobs, products, and services)

Programs for Increasing Input

1. The Language Inclusive Program of Innovation (LIPI)

 This program was created to cultivate the entrepreneurship environment inclusive of India’s 22 scheduled languages by creating 30 Vernacular Innovation Centers. It is a useful program for eliminating the hurdles faced by innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors who are not proficient in the English Language. 

2. The Frontier Program

The Frontier program is designed to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Ladakh, the North Eastern states (NE), Aspirational Districts, and regions that house 15% of Indian citizens. Under this program, 2500 new ATLs are planned to be established for template development. 

Four Programs Under AIM 2.0 to Enhance the Throughput

There are four programs set up under AIM 2.0 to increase the rate of project success. 

1. The Human Capital Development Program:  

This program is curated for assimilating around 5500 professionals (managers, teachers, trainers) to build and accelerate efforts of Innovation and entrepreneurship. 

2. The Deeptech Reactor:

 Through this program, Minimum 1 Deeptech Reactor will be build, enabling to find ways for commercializing research-based deep technology startups, requiring a significantly greater amount of time and investment. 

3. The State Innovation Mission (SIM)

 As a notable part of the NITI Aayog’s State Support Mission, it is initiated to support states/UTs to build innovation and entrepreneurship in their state, focusing on their core fields of strength. 

4. The International Innovation Collaborations program  

This program is aimed at scaling the goal of boosting innovation and entrepreneurship to the international level. It involves four notable aspects:

  • An Annual Global Tinkering Olympiad.
  • Setting up 10 Bilateral, multilateral engagements with progressive nations.
  • Being the knowledge partner, providing all required assistance to the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to widen the horizon of AIM and its programs (ATL, AIC) to the countries belonging to the global south. 
  • Hosting G20 Startup20 Engagement Group for India.

Two Programs To Increase The Output: 

  • The Industrial Accelerator program:  This program intends to increase the association of successful startups. A minimum of 10 Industry Accelerators in critical sectors will be set up in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
  • The Atal Sectoral Innovation Launchpads (ASIL) program: This initiative is planned to build iDEX-like platforms in central ministries and further integrate and procure them from businesses dealing in key sectors. A minimum of 10 launchpads are decided to create in the core ministries. 

Key Achievements of Atal Innovation Mission

Since the launch of the Atal Innovation mission, it garnered significant results that are mentioned below: 

  • Established 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL).
  • 1.1 Crore + Students’ Active Engagement in Atal Tinkering Labs.
  • 72 Atal Incubation Centres (AIC) are created.
  • 32000+ Job opportunities.
  • 3500+Startups.
  • Helped 1000+ Women Lead Startups.
  • 6200+Mentors of Change.
  • 15 Applied Research and Innovation related to Small Business Challenges.
  • 14 Atal Community Innovation Centres.
  • 24 Atal New India Challenges.
  • 40+Domestic & International Partnerships.

Also Read: Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana | Income tax exemption for startups | DPIIT Recognition for Startups

FAQs: 

1. What is the Atal Innovation Mission?

Atal Innovation Mission was started by Niti Ayog in 2016 to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship in the country through various programs such as Atal Tinkering Labs, Atal incubation centers, Atal community innovation centers, etc. 

2. Which ministry set up the Atal Innovation Mission?

Atal Innovation Mission was set up by NITI Aayog in 2016 to nurture a sense of innovation and entrepreneurship in young individuals to help them sharpen their entrepreneurial skills and build up successful businesses. 

3. What are the benefits of Atal innovation mission?

Atal Innovation Mission is highly beneficial for self-employment and talent utilization, allowing individuals to take innovative actions in their areas to disrupt the market. This mission supports people with innovative mindsets to build successful businesses through guidance and mentorship by conducting workshops, discussions, etc. 

4. What is an ATL marathon?

ATL Marathon is the innovation challenge, launched under Atal Innovation Mission. In this marathon, participating schools are required to look for community problems concerning their interested area and create innovative solutions as a working prototype to address those problems.