Atal Innovation Mission 2.0

Background and Purpose

• AIM was launched under NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Type: Central Sector Scheme.
• Tenure: Extended till 31 March 2028.
• Purpose: To create a culture of innovation and build a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in India.

👉 In short, AIM is the umbrella mission for innovation, supporting students, startups, industries, and states.

Strategy of AIM 2.0

AIM 2.0 strengthens India’s innovation landscape in three ways:

1. Increasing Input → Encourage more innovators and entrepreneurs to participate.
2. Improving Success Rate → Provide mentorship, incubation, and funding so more startups succeed.
3. Enhancing Output Quality → Ensure better jobs, better products, and better services are created.

Key Initiatives under AIM

(i) Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs)

• Set up in schools (Classes 6–12).
• Objective: Develop innovation skills in students.
• Activities: Organizes Atal Tinkering Marathons and competitions.

(ii) Atal Incubation Centers (AICs) & Atal Community Innovation Centers (ACICs)

• Incubation support for startups, universities, NGOs, SMEs.
• Focus: Entrepreneurship and grassroots innovation.

(iii) Mentor India Campaign

• Connects students and innovators with industry leaders, academicians, and government mentors.

(iv) Atal New India Challenges (ANIC)

• Promotes technology-driven innovations with social and commercial impact.
• Example: Products/solutions in health, education, energy, etc.

(v) ARISE–ANIC

• Encourages applied research & innovation in collaboration with ministries like Defence and ISRO.
• ANIC 2.0 focuses on 7 priority sectors like E-mobility, Road Transport, Space Technology, Sanitation, etc.

AIM 2.0 New Programs

1. LIPI (Language Inclusive Program of Innovation)
   • 30 Vernacular Innovation Centers for non-English speaking innovators.
2. Frontier Program
   • Special focus on J&K, Ladakh, North-East States, and Aspirational Districts.
3. Human Capital Development Program
   • Training of 5,500 professionals in innovation and entrepreneurship management.
4. DeepTech Reactor
   • Provides a sandbox environment for commercializing DeepTech startups (AI, robotics, biotech, etc.).
5. State Innovation Missions (SIMs)
   • Helps states/UTs design localized innovation ecosystems.
6. Industrial Accelerator Program
   • 10 industry accelerators in PPP mode to help advanced startups scale.
7. Atal Sectoral Innovation Launchpads (ASILs)
   • 10 platforms within central ministries to integrate startups and procure innovative solutions.
8. International Collaborations
   • Examples:
     • AIM–SIRIUS (India–Russia student innovation exchange).
     • AIM–ICDK Water Challenge (India–Denmark).
     • IACE Hackathon (India–Australia, on circular economy).
     • Global Tinkering Olympiad and Startup20 engagement under G20.

Significance

• AIM 2.0 is not just about funding startups—it is about building a nationwide culture of innovation.
• It connects schools, universities, startups, industries, ministries, and international partners under one umbrella.
• By 2028, AIM is expected to strengthen India’s role as a global hub of innovation and entrepreneurship.

✅ In summary:
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) 2.0 is India’s flagship program to nurture innovation, from a school student in Class 6 experimenting in an Atal Tinkering Lab, to a deep-tech startup collaborating with ISRO or Defence. With its structured initiatives, international collaborations, and sectoral accelerators, AIM 2.0 aspires to transform India into an innovation-driven economy by 2028.