SDG 4: Quality Education | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Institutions: NITI Aayog | Ministry of Science & Technology | Ministry of Education
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog and the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) have signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) to jointly expand Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) across India. Signed on 19 September 2025 at the French Embassy in New Delhi, the collaboration aims to strengthen industry-education linkages by mobilising corporate CSR resources and expertise from IFCCI’s Indo-French network. The alliance will support STEM education, digital literacy, and hands-on innovation through improved infrastructure, teacher training, and student-industry engagement.
The partnership builds on AIM’s reach, over 11 million student innovators across India, and IFCCI’s 86 CSR projects impacting 15,000+ individuals since 2023. It will identify government schools for ATL expansion, enhance curricula through technology-enabled learning, and host innovation challenges linking schools with industry mentors. The move aligns with the forthcoming India–France Year of Innovation 2026, which places social progress and sustainability at the heart of bilateral cooperation.
This partnership exemplifies the CSR-enabled innovation model envisioned under Digital India and Skill India, integrating private sector participation into public education. By leveraging Indo-French corporate collaboration, it also supports India’s National Education Policy 2020 goals of experiential learning and global cooperation for equitable access to technology-driven education.
What is the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)? → AIM is a flagship initiative under NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship through programmes like Atal Tinkering Labs, Atal Incubation Centres, and ARISE (Applied Research and Innovation for Small Enterprises). ATLs nurture innovation in schools, AICs support startups and incubators, and ARISE fosters collaboration between MSMEs and research institutions to solve national challenges.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can India institutionalise CSR-industry partnerships in school innovation programs to ensure long-term scalability beyond individual MoUs?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2175315