New Delhi: In yet another game changing initiative, the Union Minister for HRD, Prakash Javadekar and Union Minister of State for HRD, Dr. Satya Pal Singh launched the Innovation Cell and Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) at AICTE, New Delhi today. Innovation cell is MHRD’s initiative and has been established at AICTE premises with a purpose to systematically foster the culture of Innovation in all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country. The primary mandate of Innovation Cell is to encourage, inspire and nurture young students by exposing them to new ideas and processes resulting in innovative activities in their formative years fostered through Network of Innovation clubs in Higher Educational Institutions.
While addressing the gathering, Prakash Javadekar said that we must create innovation culture in India and for the same we are encouraging Higher Educational Institutions to create innovation club in their campuses. He also said that without innovation no country can achieve sustainable development and prosperity. The Union Minister also said that 21st century is century of Innovation, and the Prime Minister of India has called the decade 2010-20 as the ‘Decade of Innovation’, to unleash the creative potential of every Indian. India has already been improving on global stage in terms of Innovation ranking from 86th place, 5 years ago, to 57th place this year.
He further said that if we want to deliver justice to the poor and make them prosper we need to innovate, without which it is not possible. While talking about young population of the country he said that our young population can be converted into an asset if we innovate and for this reason, innovation is most important. He further said that the establishment of an innovation cell leading to innovation club, leading to Smart India Hackathon and leading to student’s start-ups, are the real eco system which we want to build upon for development of innovation culture in India.
Secretary (HE), MHRD, R Subrahmanyam, Chairman UGC, Shri D. P. Singh and Chairman AICTE Anil Sahasrabudhe were also present during the event .