BHUBANESWAR: As Eastern India continues to rapidly emerge as a vibrant hub for entrepreneurship, the Regional AIM SUMVAAD-East Chapter 2026 successfully brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and the startup ecosystem.
Organized by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog, the conclave was part of the ongoing regional Sumvaad series aimed at charting a collaborative, actionable roadmap for the region’s next phase of innovation-led growth.
Launch of the AIM-Odisha Chapter
Held at the O-Hub in Bhubaneswar, the conclave witnessed a major milestone with the official launch of the AIM-Odisha Chapter.
This newly established collaborative platform brings together Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) and Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs) across the state. The initiative is specifically designed to radically strengthen inter-incubator collaboration through shared access to specialized programmes, advanced infrastructure, mentors, investors, strategic partners, and broader ecosystem resources.
Driving ‘Purvodaya’ and a Viksit Bharat
The inaugural session was graced by Smt. Chithra Arumugam, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Science & Technology Department, Government of Odisha, who delivered the keynote address. She highlighted the Eastern region’s growing prominence in the national innovation landscape, underscoring the critical importance of institutional partnerships and policy-led interventions in nurturing globally competitive startups.
Addressing the gathering virtually, the Mission Director of Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, tied the regional efforts directly to national goals.
“Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has consistently envisioned innovation as the foundation of a Viksit Bharat. Atal Innovation Mission is translating that vision into action by strengthening innovation ecosystems beyond metropolitan centres and empowering every region to become a growth engine,” the Mission Director stated.
Welcoming the participants, Pramit Dash, Program Lead at Atal Innovation Mission, set the tone for the day by emphasizing the vital importance of regional partnerships in advancing sustainable economic development across Eastern India.
A Day of Strategic Deliberation
The conclave saw highly active participation from incubation centres across Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, strongly reflecting the growing momentum for interconnected regional collaboration.
The day-long programme featured policy briefings, intensive industry dialogues, and ecosystem huddles under the overarching theme: “Purvodaya – Building an Ecosystem for Sunrise Sectors.”
Key deliberations focused heavily on:
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Strengthening individual state startup ecosystems.
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Enabling collaborative innovation across state lines.
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Aggressively promoting grassroots entrepreneurship in aspirational districts.
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Unlocking massive opportunities in high-growth, sunrise sectors including mining, biotechnology, and life sciences.
Following highly successful engagements across the North, South, and Central regions, the AIM SUMVAAD initiative continues to seamlessly connect policymakers and entrepreneurs, creating robust innovation ecosystems rooted in local strengths.
