Pune: The Atal Community Innovation Center (ACIC-JPIF) at Jnana Prabodhini Nigdi is set to be inaugurated on July 2 at 10:30 am at the Manohar Auditorium in Nigdi Pradhikaran.
The Atal Community Innovation Center aims to provide a strong platform for grassroots innovation while empowering rural and semi-urban youth, women, farmers and aspiring entrepreneurs to build sustainable enterprises and strengthen community development.
The inauguration ceremony will be conducted by Vivek Sawant, Founder Director of Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL). The announcement was made by Subhash Deshpande, Trustee of Jnana Prabodhini, during a press conference.
Also present were Sangeeta Kulkarni, Founder Director of the Innovation Centre; Omkar Gurjar, Chief Innovation Officer; Umesh Parekh, Chief Executive Officer of Desai Brothers; and Chandrakant Rawal, CSR Head of Desai Brothers.
Speaking at the press conference, Subhash Deshpande said that representatives from the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Desai Brothers Limited, Jnana Prabodhini, various government departments, research institutions, the startup ecosystem, industry and non-governmental organisations will attend the inauguration of the Atal Community Innovation Center.
He said the Centre has been established at Jnana Prabodhini’s Nigdi campus under the guidance of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Government of India, with the support of Desai Brothers Limited.
“The primary objective of this Centre is not limited to startup incubation. It aims to transform community-driven innovations based on real-life challenges into successful enterprises, social initiatives and employment opportunities,” said Deshpande.
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The Atal Community Innovation Center will implement a Community-Based Innovation and Incubation Programme based on the concept of “From Problem to Solution, and from Solution to Sustainable Enterprise.”
Explaining the Centre’s vision, Sangeeta Kulkarni said entrepreneurs will receive structured support across multiple stages, including pre-incubation, incubation and enterprise scaling, enabling them to transform ideas into successful businesses.
She said the Centre will give special priority to rural youth, self-help groups, women entrepreneurs, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), students, researchers, social entrepreneurs, artisans and first-generation entrepreneurs.
The Atal Community Innovation Center will also provide dedicated guidance through three entrepreneurship pathways – livelihood enterprises, social enterprises and innovation-driven enterprises – ensuring that entrepreneurs receive support suited to their business goals and community needs.
Omkar Gurjar, Chief Innovation Officer, said the Centre will focus on promoting entrepreneurship across sectors including bamboo-based industries, agriculture and agri-biotechnology, medicinal plants, food processing, nutraceuticals, renewable energy, women entrepreneurship, rural industries and social innovation.
According to him, entrepreneurs associated with the Atal Community Innovation Center will receive comprehensive support through design thinking and entrepreneurship training, expert mentoring, prototype development, laboratory and makerspace facilities, field testing, industry and government networking, legal and financial advisory services, investor and funding connections, and market access.
He added that the Centre is building an integrated innovation ecosystem to help entrepreneurs convert ideas into sustainable and scalable ventures.
Sangeeta Kulkarni, Founder Director of ACIC-JPIF, said: “This Innovation Centre is not limited to startup incubation alone. It is a community-centric platform that transforms innovations based on real societal needs into sustainable enterprises.
Our effort is to strengthen local economies by providing direction, technology, mentorship and market access to the ideas of rural youth, women, farmers, artisans, researchers and innovators.”
The Atal Community Innovation Center is expected to serve as a catalyst for grassroots innovation by connecting innovators with technology, mentorship, funding opportunities and market linkages while promoting entrepreneurship-led community development in rural and semi-urban regions.
