The Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) established under the aegis of Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog at CSIR-IIIM Branch, Srinagar hosted an event to fostering Innovation and Growth; MoU Signing with Start-ups and Certificate Distribution Ceremony.” The event aimed to support the startups ecosystem in sectors such as aromatic and medicinal plants, nutraceutical mushrooms, fermentation-based products, and natural product-based enterprises. The highlight of the event was the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between AIC-IIIM and five innovative startups: M/s Gleen Biotech, M/s Durrein Tea LLP, M/s Emilieu Pvt Ltd, M/s Kashmir Aromatics, and M/s Nature Biotech Labs. These startups, specializing in herbal teas, essential oils, and cordyceps production, were recognized for their contributions to advance research and product development.

The MoUs were signed between Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, Director of CSIR-IIIM and Chairman of AIC-IIIM Bio Innovation Foundation and Startup Founders. Earlier, each startup presented its business model to an evaluation committee, which assessed the startups based on innovation, domain expertise, and business viability. Dr. Zabeer Ahmed, during his presidential address, emphasized that these collaborations would drive innovation, economic growth, and a tangible societal impact. He assured the startups of AIC-IIIM’s full support, including access to cutting-edge R&D resources, expert mentorship, and market linkages to help them scale their ventures successfully. Followed by MoU signing, the event recognized the achievements of leather trainees who completed a one-week industrial training program at CSIR-CLRI Centre Jalandhar, as well as those who completed two and six months leather training programs at AIC-IIIM Branch, Srinagar. The training was designed to enhance skills in leather processing, product development, and business strategies, improving their entrepreneurial and employment opportunities.

The event also honored the winners of Hackathon 4.0, acknowledging their innovative solutions to industry challenges. The presence of the young innovators and entrepreneurs underscored AIC-IIIM’s commitment to fostering a culture of problem-solving and enterprise development. Dr. Zabeer expressed gratitude to Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of Science & Technology, who has been instrumental in advancing the mission of CSIR-IIIM. He highlighted the recent flagging-off ceremony for leather trainees travelling to CSIR-CLRI Centre Jalandhar for industrial training, showcasing the government’s commitment to equipping youth with industry-relevant skills to drive economic growth. During the event, Dr. Saurabh Saran, PI, AIC provided insights into the inception of the AIC Centre, while Dr. Shahid Jibran, CEO, IIIM-AIC elaborated on its vision, mission, and activities. Distinguished scientists and stakeholders from CSIR-IIIM (Br) Srinagar, including Er Abdul Rahim, Head of CSIR-IIIM (Br.) Srinagar attended the event. The event concluded with a reaffirmation of AIC-IIIM’s commitment to empowering startups, fostering industry-academia collaborations, and promoting sustainable, innovation-driven growth in the region.