Niti Aayog extends deadline for research labs by a month

Niti Aayog today said it has extended the deadline by a month for applications seeking financial support for setting up research laboratories under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM).
"Niti Aayog announced to all states that the last date of submission of applications has been extended by a month to July 17, 2016, from June 17, 2016, as schools are currently closed for summer vacations," it said in a statement.
Besides, the government think-tank also held discussions with the states and union territories (UTs) to ensure successful implementation of Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL), it added.
"Niti Aayog today held a detailed interaction with Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of School Education Departments from all States and UTs to disseminate information and ensure successful implementation of the Atal Tinkering Laboratories," it said.

Among the recently launched, crucial schemes of the Niti Aayog, ATL is one of the three major initiatives under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), it added.
As part of the Mission, Niti will fund the establishment of 500 ATLs in schools across India.

That apart, AIM will also support the setting up of 100 Atal Incubation Centres and provide scale-up support to 10 established incubation centres.
The interaction was led by Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and Department of School Education and Literacy Secretary S C Khuntia, the top policy making body said.
During the hour-long interactions, Kant explicated the importance of tinkering labs in schools to foster innovative spirit among young minds.

The key features of the scheme include funding support of Rs 20 lakh for each ATL.
Khuntia appreciated Niti Aayog's initiative to inculcate a sense of creativity and innovation and provide opportunity to students with limited resources.
"Countries like the UK have design labs in every school. India should also emulate such a model and incorporate tinkering in the curriculum," he said.
The success of this initiative would be crucial to set the stage for innovation and entrepreneurship in India, Kuntia added.
Niti Aayog Senior Adviser C Murali Krishna Kumar highlighted the need for schools to establish tinkering labs with sufficient space so that students from nearby schools, as well as out of school children in the vicinity of the lab are also able to benefit from it.

States were encouraged to provide inputs to improve the scheme. Suggestions from states included reduced requirement of space and enrolment of students in hilly areas, it said.
In his keynote, Mr. Amitabh Kant expressed his delight and
said, "India needs to innovate in order to solve its own problems and thereby create solutions not only for itself but also for the rest of Asia and Africa. IB Hubs http://ibhubs.Co ] is one of the most unique and greatest things that can happen in India. I really think iB Hubs is going to be one of the most remarkable success stories in our country."

In the event, iB Hubs also inked an MoU with NRDC. IB Hubs will be taking product innovations at NRDC to people thereby generating business and employment.
Addressing the guests, Mr. S. Vijay Kumar, Chief Promoter and Mentor, iB Hubs said, "I would like to see all the youngsters of the country involved in one or the other productive and constructive activities and thereby empower the nation."
Radha Alekhya K, CEO, iB Hubs in her address said, "iB Hubs is building a collaborative platform where different stakeholders of the ecosystem - governments, industry, academia, research organisations etc. - work together with synergy to nurture innovation & entrepreneurship throughout India."

Earlier this week, iB Hubs, has entered into an MoU with
the Government of Uttar Pradesh to open up 60 centers across UP, with State Center Hub at Lucknow. IB Hubs is going to work together with organizations like IIM Calcutta - Innovation Park, IIT Kharagpur, NALSAR University, CCMB, IISc - CeNSE, NIT Agartala etc.
IB Hubs will be exchanging an MoU with NIT Agartala on 16th November 2016 at Rastrapati Bhavan in the presence of President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, during VISITOR'S CONFERENCE 2016.
IB Hubs also has a special focus in promoting NGOs and purpose-driven social enterprises,making it a truly inclusive startup ecosystem enabler in India.

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