LIVE SESSION ON MIC PROGRAMS & SCHEMES WITH IIC INSTITUTIONS

Introduction On 29th November 2024, the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell (MIC) organized a YouTube Live Awareness Session for Institutions’ Innovation Councils (IICs). The session was addressed by Dr. Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman, AICTE and Chief Innovation Officer, MIC, and attended by more than 1500 institutions across India, including faculty members, students, and innovation managers. The session aimed to orient IIC institutions about the various flagship programs and schemes of MIC, such as Smart India Hackathon, Yukti Innovation Repository, CAPILA (IPR support), and institutional incubation support, while reinforcing the vision of nurturing a robust innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in higher education. Session Highlights Overview of MIC Journey Dr. Jere explained how MIC has systematically strengthened innovation culture since 2018, moving from isolated hackathons to an integrated ecosystem with 14,000+ IICs. Smart India Hackathon Record-breaking 2200+ internal hackathons conducted nationwide, creating a model of open innovation and student participation. Integration of Innovation into Academics Institutions urged to treat entrepreneurship and problem-solving as academic priorities, making students contributors of global ideas. IIC Performance & Star Ratings Institutions with 3-4 star ratings expected to be more aggressive in driving innovation, while 1-2 star institutions were urged to step up participation. Yukti Innovation Repository Over 1.5 lakh ideas submitted, with 130+ receiving funding support. Institutions were encouraged to conduct local Yukti challenges in collaboration with nearby colleges. CAPILA Scheme Institutions can get government fees reimbursed for IPR filings, helping boost patent culture. Incubation & Investor Connect Institutions encouraged to link with nearby incubators, industry mentors, and investors to support startups, with MIC working on creating a national investor network. Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration Emphasis on innovation at the intersection of domains (e.g., management + engineering, medical + technology). Non-technical institutions were encouraged to collaborate with technical ones for problem-solving. Practical Guidance Institutions advised to leverage low-cost/no-cost innovation practices like design thinking workshops, IP sensitization sessions, student-led idea challenges, and institutional problem-solving projects. Conclusion The session was a comprehensive orientation for institutions under the IIC framework, reinforcing the national vision for innovation-driven education. Dr. Abhay Jere emphasized that India’s young innovators and startups will play a pivotal role in building a $20 trillion economy by 2047. The interaction not only motivated students and faculty but also provided a clear roadmap for institutions to strengthen their innovation ecosystem through academic integration, incubation support, IP facilitation, and investor engagement. The session concluded with a strong call to action for institutions to become hubs of innovation and entrepreneurship, ensuring that students emerge as problem solvers, wealth creators, and global changemakers. Photos Participation