Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 10: Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, Mangaluru, marked a significant milestone in its innovation journey with the inauguration of ACIC Sahyadri Foundation, an Atal Community Innovation Centre supported by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, government of India. The Centre has been established with a vision to strengthen grassroots innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods across coastal Karnataka.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Capt Ganesh Karnik, army veteran and former MLC, as the chief guest, and Deepakshi Jindal, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, as the guest of honour. The event brought together students, faculty members, startup founders, entrepreneurs, grassroots innovators, industry professionals, government representatives, ecosystem partners and members of the regional entrepreneurial community. The proceedings began with the inauguration of the ACIC facility, followed by a tour of Sahyadri’s innovation infrastructure, including Vkon Automation and Mphasis Labs.
The formal programme commenced with the traditional lamp-lighting and a welcome address by Johnson Tellis, CEO, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management. Delivering the keynote address, Capt Ganesh Karnik highlighted the growing opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship in India and encouraged students to retain their curiosity, question existing practices, experiment and develop strong hands-on problem-solving capabilities. He emphasized the importance of identifying challenges specific to local regions and developing solutions that create meaningful social and economic impact.
Deepakshi Jindal highlighted the immense potential for innovation emerging from Tier-2, Tier-3 and Tier-4 regions of India, particularly through local strengths, traditional industries, crafts, tourism and grassroots economies. She encouraged students and aspiring entrepreneurs to leverage ACIC Sahyadri to transform ideas into viable products, ventures and startups, while effectively using government schemes and national-level innovation programmes.
Speaking on Sahyadri College’s innovation journey, Dr Manjappa Sarathy, director – R&D, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, highlighted the institution’s commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, social innovation and project-based learning. He emphasized the role of the institution’s innovation ecosystem in enabling students to progress from classroom ideas to functional products and startups, while also highlighting entrepreneurship as an important driver of regional wealth creation and economic development. Dr S S Injaganeri, principal, Sahyadri College, also highlighted Sahyadri’s journey in social innovation and the importance of institutional support, faculty mentorship, government schemes and access to grants in nurturing successful ventures.
Presenting the vision of ACIC Sahyadri, Dinu Anand R, CEO, ACIC Sahyadri Foundation, said that the Centre is envisioned as an end-to-end entrepreneurial support system for Coastal Karnataka, supporting entrepreneurs through the journey from idea discovery and pre-incubation to incubation, development, commercialization, acceleration and scaling. The Centre will promote livelihood entrepreneurship across both traditional and emerging sectors, including fishing and allied activities, arecanut farming, small-scale manufacturing, traditional industries and high-technology ventures.
ACIC Sahyadri will leverage Sahyadri College’s laboratories, technical infrastructure, mentorship ecosystem and government funding pathways to connect local challenges and resources with innovation and entrepreneurship. The Centre will focus on four key areas: Agritech, Rural Innovation & Blue Economy; ClimateTech, Sustainability & Circular Economy; HealthTech, DeepTech & Inclusive Technology; and Tourism, Culture, Heritage & Creative Economy.
The inauguration represents an important step towards building a more inclusive and impact-driven innovation ecosystem in Coastal Karnataka. ACIC Sahyadri aims to enable students, entrepreneurs, grassroots innovators and communities to address regional challenges, build sustainable enterprises and create new livelihood opportunities, while supporting their journey from identifying a problem to developing, commercializing and scaling solutions.
The programme also featured felicitation and token presentations honoring dignitaries and contributors who have supported the innovation ecosystem. The formal proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr S S Injaganeri, principal, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, followed by a networking lunch that provided an opportunity for entrepreneurs, industry professionals, students, government representatives and ecosystem stakeholders to connect and explore future collaborations.
About ACIC Sahyadri Foundation
ACIC Sahyadri Foundation is an Atal Community Innovation Centre supported by the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Government of India, established at Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, Mangaluru. The Centre seeks to strengthen grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship across Coastal Karnataka by providing innovators and entrepreneurs with access to infrastructure, mentorship, technical capabilities, networks, government support and pathways to commercialization. Its vision is to transform local challenges into innovative solutions, sustainable enterprises and regional impact.