Agartala: The Tripura State Innovation Mission was formally launched by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under the aegis of NITI Aayog, marking a significant milestone in embedding innovation and entrepreneurship into Tripura’s long-term development framework.
The Tripura State Innovation Mission is the first State Innovation Mission (SIM) in the country and aims to strengthen a robust, inclusive, and context-driven innovation ecosystem aligned with national priorities and local strengths.
The Tripura State Innovation Mission forms part of the approved AIM 2.0 programme under NITI Aayog’s State Support Mission (SSM).
Designed as a long-term institutional mechanism, the Tripura State Innovation Mission will support States and Union Territories in building structured innovation systems aligned with sectoral priorities and economic goals.
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High-Level Launch in Agartala
The Tripura State Innovation Mission was launched at the Hapania International Exhibition Centre in Agartala in the presence of Prof Dr Manik Saha, Chief Minister of Tripura; Suman Bery, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog; Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge); and Dr V K Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha outlined Tripura’s innovation-led growth vision under the Tripura State Innovation Mission and announced several forward-looking initiatives.
Tripura State Innovation Mission: Key Announcements
- As part of the Tripura State Innovation Mission framework, the State will institutionalize SIM under the Tripura Institution for Transformation (TIFT).
- Additionally, the Chief Minister inaugurated T-NEST (Tripura – Nurturing Entrepreneurship and Startups), a dedicated incubation and innovation facility aimed at incubating startups and promoting “Make from Tripura” solutions.
- Under the Tripura State Innovation Mission, Innovation Centres will also be established in all eight districts, linked to T-NEST, to promote innovation among women and tribal communities.
- Further strengthening grassroots innovation, Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha launched one of India’s first District Innovator Fellowships (DIF) under the Tripura State Innovation Mission to identify and nurture grassroots innovators through structured lifecycle support.
- The Chief Minister also announced that Tripura will introduce a State AI Policy aligned with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi on responsible and inclusive AI.
- In addition, the State will develop a first-of-its-kind AI City in Agartala with support from leading global technology enablers, positioning Tripura as a future-ready hub for AI-driven innovation and governance under the broader Tripura State Innovation Mission strategy.
AIM’s Role in Supporting Tripura State Innovation Mission
Through the Tripura State Innovation Mission, AIM will collaborate closely with the Government of Tripura to design and implement a long-term innovation and entrepreneurship strategy aligned with the State’s economic priorities and development goals.
The Tripura State Innovation Mission will focus on capacity building, policy support, partnerships, peer learning, and structured programmatic interventions across the innovation lifecycle.
Speaking at the event, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that the Atal Innovation Mission was conceptualised by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has introduced a new culture of innovation in governance.
He noted that the transition from the Planning Commission to NITI Aayog, along with the creation of AIM, marked a shift from traditional planning to innovation-led development, empowering States to become active drivers of growth.
Referring to Tripura, he said that the launch of the Tripura State Innovation Mission demonstrates how States can effectively leverage the AIM framework to unlock local potential and emerge as engines of national growth.
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Vision for Inclusive Innovation
Deepak Bagla, Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, highlighted AIM’s approach toward strengthening State-led innovation systems.
He stated: “The Prime Minister vision is to build an innovation-led Aatmanirbharat. The State Innovation Mission is our endeavor to that vision. By empowering States to lead innovation in their own context, we are ensuring that talent from every district, every classroom, and every community becomes a driver of national growth. This is how AIM is working to transform aspiration into action and ensure that India’s innovation journey is truly inclusive.”
The Tripura State Innovation Mission will also focus on strengthening innovation education and entrepreneurial exposure from the school level onward.
It will enable startups and innovators to access infrastructure, mentorship, and funding support beyond traditional risk thresholds, while promoting inclusion, regional balance, and collaboration among government, academia, industry, and civil society.
The launch of the Tripura State Innovation Mission builds on AIM’s sustained engagement with the State over the past year and reinforces its broader commitment to partnering with States and Union Territories in achieving the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 through innovation-led development.
