Why in news?
India inaugurated its first overseas Atal Innovation Centre (AIC) at the IIT Delhi – Abu Dhabi campus during the Education Minister’s visit to the United Arab Emirates in September 2025.
What is an Atal Innovation Centre?
AICs are incubators set up under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to promote innovation, entrepreneurship and start‑ups. The mission, launched in 2016 and managed by NITI Aayog, has established dozens of AICs across India.
Objectives of the overseas centre
- Support start‑ups: Provide incubation space, mentorship and funding for innovative ideas from students and young professionals.
- Foster collaboration: Enhance India–UAE cooperation in education, sustainability and technology.
- Skill development: Offer joint training programmes, student exchanges and capacity building.
Atal Innovation Mission overview
- The mission aims to create a culture of innovation through Atal Tinkering Labs in schools and Atal Incubation Centres in universities and corporates.
- More than 10,000 tinkering labs and 70+ incubation centres have been established, supporting thousands of start‑ups and generating tens of thousands of jobs.
- The mission emphasises sectors like HealthTech, AgriTech, FinTech, Education, Food Processing and emerging technologies.
The establishment of the Abu Dhabi centre marks a step towards globalising India’s innovation ecosystem.