NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) organized the Regional AIM SUMVAAD-East Chapter 2026 at O-Hub in Bhubaneswar as part of its ongoing regional Sumvaad series. The event brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and the startup ecosystem to develop a collaborative roadmap for innovation-led growth in Eastern India.
The conclave featured the launch of the AIM-Odisha Chapter, a collaborative platform that brings together Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) and Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs) across Odisha. This initiative is designed to strengthen inter-incubator collaboration through shared access to programs, infrastructure, mentors, investors, strategic partners, and ecosystem resources, creating greater opportunities for startups while enriching Odisha's innovation ecosystem.
Smt. Chithra Arumugam, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of the Science & Technology Department, Government of Odisha, delivered the keynote address, highlighting Eastern India's growing prominence in the national innovation landscape and emphasizing the importance of collaborative ecosystems, institutional partnerships, and policy-led interventions in nurturing globally competitive startup ecosystems. The Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission addressed the gathering virtually, stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently envisioned innovation as the foundation of a Viksit Bharat, and that AIM is strengthening innovation ecosystems beyond metropolitan centers.
The event saw active participation from Atal Incubation Centres and Atal Community Innovation Centres across Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The day-long program featured policy briefings, industry dialogues, ecosystem huddles, and thematic sessions under the theme "Purvodaya-Building an Ecosystem for Sunrise Sectors." Deliberations focused on strengthening state startup ecosystems, enabling collaborative innovation, promoting grassroots entrepreneurship in aspirational districts, and unlocking opportunities in high-growth sectors including mining, biotechnology, and life sciences.