India Opens First Overseas Atal Innovation Centre in Abu Dhabi

India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre was inaugurated at the IIT Delhi campus in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This centre will provide world-class incubation facilities for Indian start-ups and innovators and will also serve as a gateway to Middle Eastern markets.

• Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan recently inaugurated India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre at IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus under AIM in the United Arab Emirates.
• Speaking on the occasion, Shri Pradhan said that AIC at IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi will nurture joint start-ups and research-based ventures by innovators from both India and the UAE and will also promote bilateral cooperation in deep tech, AI, clean energy, healthcare and other areas of mutual importance.
• Shri Pradhan also discussed the success of Atal Tinkering Labs in promoting curiosity and creativity across schools in India as well as the plans to implement Atal Incubation Labs in Indian schools in the UAE.

IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi Campus

• The campus was officially inaugurated on 03 September 2024 by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It is the first full IIT campus outside India, symbolizing an important collaboration in the field of education between India and the UAE.
• This development was encouraged by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the University Grants Commission (UGC) Foreign Higher Educational Institutions (FHEI) Regulations, 2023.
• India is also expanding its global presence, as IIT Madras has started its centre in Zanzibar.

About AIM

• It is a flagship initiative of the Government of India under the aegis of NITI Aayog.
• Establishment of Atal Tinkering Labs at the school level (classes 6–12) to promote innovation.
• Atal Incubation Centres in universities, institutions and corporates to promote entrepreneurship among young innovators.
• ARISE-ANIC program to support innovation in MSMEs and start-ups.
• A major initiative of the Government of India to build a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs): Labs set up in schools for students (classes 6–12) to learn robotics, IoT, 3D printing and electronics. More than 10,000 labs established across India.
• Atal Incubation Centres (AICs): Business incubators in universities and corporates.
• Providing start-ups with guidance, funding, networking and infrastructure support.
• 72 AICs are operational, supporting more than 3,500 start-ups and creating over 32,000 jobs.