Atal Community Innovation Centre Launched at Sahyadri College to Drive Grassroots Entrepreneurship in Coastal Karnataka

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Mangaluru : Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, Mangaluru, has marked a major milestone in strengthening the regional ecosystem with the formal inauguration of the ACIC Sahyadri Foundation. Supported by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Government of India, the Atal Community Innovation Centre aims to foster sustainable livelihoods, empower grassroots innovators, and turn local ideas into commercial ventures across Coastal Karnataka. The ceremony featured Army Veteran and Ex-MLC Capt. Ganesh Karnik as Chief Guest and Ms. Deepakshi Jindal from AIM, NITI Aayog, as Guest of Honour, alongside students, startup founders, industry experts, and academic leaders. The event commenced with the unveiling of the facility, followed by an insightful tour of Sahyadri’s advanced infrastructure, including Vkon Automation and Mphasis Labs.

Addressing the audience after the lamp-lighting ceremony and welcoming address by College CEO Mr. Johnson Tellis, Chief Guest Capt. Ganesh Karnik urged students to cultivate curiosity and build hands-on problem-solving skills targeted at regional challenges. Guest of Honour Ms. Deepakshi Jindal highlighted the massive untapped innovation potential in Tier-2, Tier-3, and Tier-4 regions, specifically across traditional crafts, tourism, and rural economies, encouraging young entrepreneurs to utilize national government schemes through ACIC. Further detailing Sahyadri’s institutional commitment, Director of R&D Dr. Manjappa Sarathy and Principal Dr. S.S. Injaganeri emphasized project-based learning, faculty mentorship, grant pathways, and the essential role of startups in driving regional wealth creation.

Outlining the core vision, ACIC Sahyadri Foundation CEO Mr. Dinu Anand R explained that the centre will function as a comprehensive end-to-end support mechanism—guiding ventures from ideation and pre-incubation to full scaling and acceleration. The focus will span both traditional coastal occupations like fishing and arecanut farming as well as advanced tech ventures across four key verticals: Agritech & Blue Economy; ClimateTech & Sustainability; HealthTech & Inclusive Tech; and Tourism, Heritage & Creative Economy. The inauguration concluded with felicitations and a vote of thanks by Principal Dr. S.S. Injaganeri, followed by a networking lunch that enabled ecosystem stakeholders to build strong collaborative ties for the future.