Gurugram, Haryana, India
SGT University held the official inauguration ceremony for the launch of their Atal Community Innovation Centre (ACIC-SGTU) on November 22, 2023. The grand event witnessed the presence of distinguished government representatives and esteemed dignitaries, marking a significant milestone in the university’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
ACIC-SGTU, established with the support of NITI Aayog, is envisioned as a pivotal support system aimed at nurturing the problem-solving and creative abilities of young entrepreneurs. The center will provide essential resources such as financial support, physical space, and mentorship through grants and partnership programs. Its aim is to identify and scale up grassroots innovations by providing skill development training, capacity-building programs, and linking innovators with the startup ecosystem.
One of the highlights of the inauguration was the launch of the “Startup Store,” a unique concept designed to serve as a true “marketplace for ideas.” This platform allows individuals to explore innovations and engage with the creators emerging from ACIC-SGTU.
At the ceremony itself, Dr. Chintan Vaidhnav, an academician and researcher of the highest standards who is currently chairing GoI’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) project, welcomed SGT into the ACIC fold and shared his vision for what the centre is supposed to be. “The main focus of ACIC is to be a community facing centre that closes the gaps in innovation output between major cities and other parts of India.”
“The community facing aspect is important, as interacting with them can help collect critical data and help you in fine tuning your innovations,” he wisely quipped.
The Guest of Honour for the ceremony was the former Senior Director of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and a thought leader in digital innovation, Mr. Ajai Garg. In his address to the attendees, he praised SGT University’s multidisciplinary focus and emphasised that this is “India’s time to innovate,” while thanking ACIC for assisting the nation in capitalising on this moment.
The ceremony also featured visits to various startup stalls, showcasing the remarkable work already undertaken by the center. ACIC-SGTU focuses on key sectors such as Agriculture & Allied Fields, Green & Clean Energy, Healthcare, and IoT/IT. The center has successfully reached out to local areas such as Jhajjar, Sultanpur, Dhankot, Chandu, Bahadurgarh, Gurugram, Sadhrana, Farukh Nagar, providing startups with essential benefits, including co-working spaces, high-speed internet facilities, mentor connections, peer-to-peer learning, and networking opportunities.
Several startups incubated at ACIC-SGTU have already achieved notable success. Medico Albatross received a grant of 4 lakhs from the MeitY Start-up hub under the TIDE 2.0 Scheme, while Sumiom Innovation secured the 1st position and a cash prize of Rs. 30,000 in the National Innovation Challenge at Panipat Institute of Engineering and Technology.
SGT University, with its broad ambitions to promote research, innovation, and multidisciplinary education, views ACIC-SGTU as just the beginning of its grand plans. The institution, which began as SGT Dental College in 2002, has now grown to offer more than 180 programs across a range of disciplines in commerce, art, and science.
