AICTE to boost innovation and startups

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

In a decisive move to fortify the start-up ecosystem and cultivate entrepreneurial talent in Andhra Pradesh, the state government has entered into a landmark tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cyient Foundation and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

The MoU was signed at the residence of Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh in Undavalli, in the presence of higher officials from the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC), Cyient Foundation, and AICTE.

This initiative is geared toward establishing urban innovation clusters, with the first cluster to be launched in Visakhapatnam. These clusters will focus on embedding entrepreneurial thinking within educational institutions, promoting intellectual property (IP) generation, and nurturing a thriving startup culture across the state.

Speaking at the signing, Minister Lokesh emphasized the government's commitment to transforming Andhra Pradesh into a hub of innovation. “Through this partnership, we are sowing the seeds for a self-reliant, innovation-driven economy. The collaboration with Cyient Foundation and AICTE will ensure that our youth are equipped not just with skills, but with the mindset to innovate and lead,” he said.

As a core component of this initiative, two specialized centers—i-CARE (Innovation Creation and Research for Entrepreneurship) and i-CAFE (Idea Creation and Auxiliary Facilities for Entrepreneurship)—will be set up. These centers will serve as incubators for student-led innovation and enterprise development. In addition, IPR and Technology Transfer (IPR-TT) cells will be established in engineering colleges, particularly in the Visakhapatnam region, to support research commercialization and patent generation.

The collaboration will also include boot camps, hackathons, innovation fairs, and entrepreneurship competitions. Expert mentorship sessions and cluster-level conclaves will offer hands-on guidance from leading industry professionals, aiming to build a robust and future-ready innovation ecosystem. The AP State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) will act as the nodal agency, aligning efforts among state departments, industry partners, and educational institutions to ensure seamless implementation and impact delivery.