New Delhi: The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Government of India, has partnered with the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) to scale up Atal Tinkering Labs across India.
The collaboration, formalized through a Statement of Intent (SoI) signed on September 19, 2025, aims to strengthen industry-education linkages and foster innovation-driven learning among school students.
AIM–IFCCI Collaboration to Strengthen Innovation Ecosystem through Atal Tinkering Labs
The SoI signing took place at the Embassy of France in New Delhi during the 3rd Edition of IFCCI CSR Connect Day 2025, themed “Collaborating for Scale-Cross-Sectoral Partnerships for Sustainable Development.” The event brought together over 100 participants, including corporate leaders, diplomats, and CSR professionals from India and France.
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H.E. Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, applauded IFCCI’s leadership in driving impactful Indo-French partnerships for social good. He noted that 2026, designated as the India-France Year of Innovation, would mark a significant phase in advancing both technological and social innovation through strategic cooperation.
Expanding Access to STEM Education through Atal Tinkering Labs
The partnership between AIM and IFCCI seeks to promote Atal Tinkering Labs as catalysts for STEM education, digital literacy, and hands-on innovation in schools across India. Through IFCCI’s Indo-French corporate network, the initiative will mobilize CSR support to improve infrastructure, enhance curriculum delivery, and encourage deeper engagement between industry and academia.
The program will focus on expanding access to technology-based learning in government schools, providing teacher training, and conducting innovation challenges that nurture creativity and problem-solving skills among students.
Empowering Future Innovators through Industry-Education Collaboration
Mission Director of AIM, NITI Aayog, Deepak Bagla, highlighted that innovation is thriving in every corner of the country, with over 11 million student entrepreneurs already impacted by AIM initiatives. He emphasized that the collaboration with IFCCI will further extend the reach of innovation-driven education to young entrepreneurs across India.
Payal S Kanwar, Director General of IFCCI, added that the partnership represents a significant step toward bridging the gap between education and industry. “Through this collaboration, we aim to make innovation accessible to every student, particularly in underserved regions,” she stated.
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IFCCI’s Continued CSR Leadership
Since 2023, IFCCI’s CSR Department has implemented 86 projects, reaching more than 15,000 beneficiaries nationwide. These projects span education, healthcare, women empowerment, livelihoods, and renewable energy-aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The AIM–IFCCI partnership reaffirms both organizations’ commitment to building an inclusive, innovation-led India by empowering the next generation of thinkers, creators, and leaders through Atal Tinkering Labs.
