Connect grassroots innovators with formal ecosystem: Minister
New Delhi, July 31
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday called for a seamless national innovation pathway to connect grassroots innovators with the formal innovation ecosystem.
Addressing the 'Grassroots Innovator Recognition Ceremony 2026' at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre here, the minister honoured 26 grassroots innovators.
These innovators developed practical, affordable and community-driven solutions across agriculture, healthcare, clean energy, assistive technology, water management, circular economy and sustainable livelihoods.
The minister said that India's next wave of growth will emerge from villages, small towns and community innovators rather than only from laboratories and large cities.
Dr Singh called for a seamless pathway to transform grassroots innovations into nationally scalable enterprises, adding that innovation must move beyond recognition to scientific validation, technology translation, incubation and market adoption.
He called for stronger integration between the grassroots innovation ecosystem nurtured by AIM and the Department of Science and Technology's National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI).
Such convergence would provide innovators access to Technology Business Incubators, Centres of Excellence, prototype development, scientific validation, intellectual property support, product testing, certification, manufacturing partnerships, finance and market linkages.
The government has transformed innovation into a nationwide movement by democratising access to science, technology and entrepreneurship, he noted.
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has expanded the innovation ecosystem beyond premier institutions and metropolitan centres, enabling talented innovators from rural, tribal, hilly, coastal, aspirational and remote regions to become active partners in India's development journey.
India currently hosts over 2.4 lakh startups, making it the world's third-largest startup ecosystem. Innovations that reduce drudgery, enhance productivity, generate livelihoods and create sustainable local enterprises, represent the true spirit of inclusive development, the minister noted.
The minister noted that 25 Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs) are already operational, which have supported more than 2,500 grassroots innovators and another 25 in the pipeline.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative but I hope the process doesn't get stuck in bureaucracy. The paperwork should be minimal for a farmer or artisan who has a great idea. The real test is whether these 26 innovators actually get market access in the next year, not just certificates and photos.
As someone who has worked with rural self-help groups, I can say this is a step in the right direction. Many women in our community have made low-cost sanitary napkin machines and solar dryers but had no idea where to go for patents or scaling. This bridge between AIM and NIDHI could be a gamechanger! 🌟
Impressive numbers - 2.4 lakh startups and third largest ecosystem globally. But the real challenge is sustainabilty. Many grassroots innovations die at the pilot stage due to lack of product-market fit or quality certification. I hope the integration with Technology Business Incubators addresses this practical gap.
The Atal Community Innovation Centres supporting 2,500+ innovators is encouraging. I've seen some ACIC projects in tier-3 towns and they genuinely help with prototyping and mentorship. My only wish is that these centres be set up faster - 50 total is still a drop in the ocean for a country our size.
I am a farmer from Tamil Nadu and my neighbour invented a low-cost drip irrigation system from waste pipes. He got some local recognition but no one helped him patent it. This kind of national pathway would have helped him. Good to see the government finally taking grassroots innovation seriously. But we need more awareness at the block level about these schemes.
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