Why In News?

Recently, Niti Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in collaboration with Dell Technologies launched Student Entrepreneurship Programme 2.0 (SEP 2.0) for young innovators of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs).

Background: 

• The Student Entrepreneurship Programme (SEP) 1.0 was launched in January 2019.
• The top 6 teams of ATL Marathon got a chance to transform their innovative prototypes into fully functioning products through a 10-month-long rigorous programme.
•  50 teams were selected for the Student Innovator Programme after two rigorous rounds.
• The teams were then mentored by Atal Incubation Centres for months via the Student Innovator Programme 2.0.
• The top 8 will now take their prototypes to the product through SEP 2.0.

About the programme 2.0:

• SEP 2.0 will allow student innovators to work closely with Dell volunteers.
• Support-They will receive mentor support, prototyping and testing support, end-user feedback, intellectual property registration and patenting of ideas, processes, and products.
• It will provide manufacturing support as well as the launch support of the product in the market.
• Significance –The programme will help students in receiving support and guidance for manufacturing fully-functional and market-ready products.
  • It encourages young aspiring school students, as well as creates a value-adding recognition platform for innovative talent across the country.

About Atal Innovation Mission: 

• It has been launched by  NITI Aayog as a flagship program to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in a holistic manner through various initiatives at school, university and industry levels.

Functions-

• Innovation promotion– to provide a platform where innovative ideas are generated.
• Entrepreneurship promotion-  Innovators would be supported and mentored to become successful entrepreneurs through Self-Employment and Talent Utilization at Incubation Centres.

Some initiatives of AIM are-

• Atal Tinkering Labs – To promote creative, innovative mindset in schools.
• ATL Marathon-It is a nationwide contest where students identify community challenges and create grassroots innovations and solutions within their ATLs)
• Atal Incubators – To promote entrepreneurship in universities and industry.
• Atal New India Challenges and Atal Grand Challenges – To promote specific product innovations with social/economic impact.
• Mentors of Change – To mentor students at ATL and AIC Incubators / Startups.