In an effort to promote more “tinkering” in schools across the country the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) with global software giant SAP. The programme which will fall under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) would enable SAP to adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) to promote advanced technologies such as, internet of things, artificial intelligence, blockchain, 3D and robotics, among others.

#NewsFromNITI: NITI’s @AIMtoInnovate signs Statement of Intent (SoI) with @SAP to encourage innovation & entreprenuership across India, by adopting 100 Atal Tinkering Labs #AIMtoInnovate pic.twitter.com/omTQh335Ck

— NITI Aayog (@NITIAayog) March 27, 2018

Acknowledging the importance of the collaborations, Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog, said in a statement, “India’s growth for the next few decades will depend on the innovations coming out of these tinkering labs. Tomorrow’s ideas come from students, who will disrupt industries and creative sectors with new technologies and processes which will thrust India into the leadership position for technological creativity and innovation. This is possible only through effective public-private partnership and we are delighted to have SAP partner with us on AIM to nurture the future talent of our country”.

Kant told a newspaper, “As many as 2,400 schools across the country had already been selected to set up Atal Tinkering Labs and we will take this number to 30,000 in next three years.”

The program is aimed at enabling students to learn science, technology, engineering and mathematics education among secondary school students in the year 2018.

Ramanathan Ramanan, mission director at AIM, added, “Such partnerships are a win-win situation for AIM and its partners. This partnership shall help support and boost innovations from the ATLs. The support to Atal Incubators will catalyse adoption of the innovations to commercial scales, ensuring deployment of the innovations to the domestic and international markets quickly and efficiently.”

SAP employee volunteers will coach and mentor students in advanced technology topics and the design lab of SAP Labs India, will provide trainings and allow students to gain hands-on experience with technology gadgets.

NITI Aayog’s AIM envisions the creation of a collaborative ecosystem, where students, teachers, mentors and industry partners work to facilitate innovation, foster scientific temper and an entrepreneurial spirit in the children of today, who will go on to become successful contributors to nation-building tomorrow.

The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. AIM is mandated to create an umbrella structure to oversee innovation ecosystem of the country and revolutionising the innovation eco-system — touching upon the entire innovation life cycle through various programs.