NITI Aayog to open applications for Atal Innovation Mission for MSMEs, startups and inventors in India

Inventors and designers in India could have a chance to win upto Rs 1 crore if they win the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) challenge. The Atal New India Challenge is part of NITI Aayog, and will not only offer money, but provide mentorship for the winning ideas.

Participants have been invited to present their design-ready products, that will be assessed on three verticals - capability, intent and potential to productise technologies. The prospective innovators will have the option of applying their product to any of the 17 identified focus areas that include smart mobility, predictive maintenance of rolling stock and waste management.

Once an idea has been shortlisted for AIM, the person responsible will be supplemented with mentorship and incubation facilities as per the requirements of the project. The end goal is to ensure wider deployment for the product.

The mission is being implemented in cooperation with five other ministries, including Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare as well as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Some of the people at the event will be SS Ahluwalia, Minister of State and Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog.

This seems to be a step forward in an attempt to turn India from an imitating nation into an innovating country.