First Overseas Atal Innovation Centre Inaugurated at IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi Campus

India opened its first offshore Atal Innovation Centre (AIC) in the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus in the UAE in September 2025. The centre was set up within the framework of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and is meant to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among students and young professionals in the UAE and more. It is dedicated to research and innovation and sustainable technologies promotion, and aims to enhance cooperation between India and UAE concerning education, technology and sustainability. AIC will offer incubation opportunities, research infrastructure and international knowledge exchange which will be a big move towards India in globalizing its innovation ecosystem.

Key Highlights

• Location: IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Launch Date: September 2025
• Objective:
  • Encourage research, innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Enhance the ties between India and UAE in the education sector, sustainability, and technology.
  • Be an international knowledge center.

Functions of the Centre:

• Breed start-ups and promote innovations.
• Possess research and innovation facilities.
• Staff and student exchange programs, skill development, training of teachers.
• Develop international networks of knowledge.

What is Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)? 

• AIM is a government initiative that fosters the development of innovative technologies to help enhance the lives of both citizens and business in India.
• The Atal Innovation Mission, which is an initiative started by the Government of India under NITI Aayog, is the most high-profile initiative of the Government of India to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship within the nation. It aims at first and foremost establishing an ecosystem that is innovative in schools, universities, and industries.

Key Features of AIM

• Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs):
  • Targeted at the school students (Classes 6-12) to encourage the creativity and practical approach in robotics, IoT, 3D printing, and electronics.
  • Over 10,000 labs set up across India.
• Atal Incubation Centres (AICs):
  • Incubators that offer mentoring, finance and networking opportunities to start-ups based on universities and corporations.
  • It has promoted over 3,500 start-ups which have resulted in the creation of over 32,000 jobs.
• Entrepreneurial Ecosystem:
  • Look at the emerging industries such as HealthTech, FinTech, AgriTech, EdTech, Food Processing, Drone and Space Tech, and AR/VR.
  • More than 1000 start-ups that have women as leaders.

Conclusion

The launch of the first overseas Atal Innovation Centre in Abu Dhabi, India is a new milestone in the internationalization of the Atal Innovation Mission. It creates an emphasis on how India is devoted to facilitating cross-border cooperation in education, innovation and entrepreneurship. In the case of the RAS Mains, this innovation is indicative of the Indian initiatives to globalize its innovation system, improve its global collaborations and establish a favorable environment to start-ups across the globe. The project also enhances the role of AIM in driving the innovation arena in India in the international arena.