With an aim to promote new ideas for innovation in all higher education institutions (HEIs) across the country, HRD Ministry on Wednesday established an innovation cell at the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said the new cell will be a significant step in institutionalising innovation and developing a scientific temperament in the country.
"The purpose of formation of network of Institution's Innovation Councils (IICs) is to encourage, inspire and nurture young students by exposing them to new ideas and processes resulting in innovative activities in their formative years," Javadekar said.
"More than 1,000 HEIs have already formed IICs in their campuses and enrolled for the IIC network managed by MHRD's innovation cell to promote innovation through multitudinous modes leading to an innovation promotion eco-system in their campuses," he said.
Javadekar said varsities are the main research centers of developed countries and because of their research they are at the top in global innovation ranking. "Now Indian universities are also setting up research centers through the IIC programme and we are expecting good rank in global innovation ranking in next two to three years through this initiative," he added.
The Minister said that the educational advancement in higher education can only be achieved by encouraging best practices in innovation and advance research and Innovation Cell has undertaken many initiatives in this direction such as implementing programs like Atal Ranking of Institutions on InnovationAchievement (ARIIA), Smart India Hackathon (SIH)- 2019, etc.