Excelsior Correspondent
AGARTALA, Feb 26: Launching India’s first State Innovation Mission (SIM) in Agartala today, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that innovation must move beyond laboratories and metropolitan corridors to districts, villages, and every citizen whose aspirations define the idea of a New India.
Describing the Northeast as the “New Engine” of India’s growth, the Minister said, Tripura’s initiative marks a decisive step toward decentralizing technology and democratizing opportunity.
The SIM Tripura launch was attended by Chief Minister of Tripura Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha, Chairman NITI Aayog Suman Bery, Member NITI Aayog Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Minister for IT, Finance, Planning and Coordination Shri Pranajit Singha Roy, Chief Secretary Shri Jitendra Kumar Sinha, IT Secretary Shri Rajiv Kumar Sen, Managing Director NeGD Shri Kiran Gitte, along with senior officials, startup founders, innovators, students, and industry representatives.
Dr. Jitendra Singh described the launch of SIM in Tripura as a natural progression of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), an initiative envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Recalling that the concept of innovation missions was once unfamiliar in government systems, he said AIM has, over the last several years, transformed into a nationwide movement. From the establishment of nearly 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) to the recent decision to expand to 50,000 more, the innovation ecosystem now reaches deep into districts and small towns, inspiring school students across the country.
The Minister said that the decision of the Union Cabinet to extend AIM and promote State Innovation Missions across States and Union Territories reflects the spirit of cooperative and competitive federalism. Tripura, under the leadership of Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha, has taken the lead, setting an example for the rest of the country. The Minister described this as a demonstration of the “double engine” approach, where national vision and state-level execution work in tandem.
Highlighting Tripura’s performance in entrepreneurship, the Minister shared that the state today has over 150 registered startups, recording an average growth of around 66 percent in startup recognitions over the last five years. A significant share of these ventures is women-led, positioning Tripura as a leader in gender-inclusive innovation in the Northeast. He added that the launch of SIM will further support commercialization of innovative ideas and strengthen the startup ecosystem.
The Minister spoke about Tripura’s unique strengths, particularly its bamboo and rubber resources, and said these can drive high-value manufacturing, including applications linked to the defence sector, biofuel for aerospace and specialized materials. He emphasized that leveraging local strengths for national priorities would define the next phase of growth.
Referring to the recent AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi; he said the future of governance and enterprise will be shaped by technology that serves humanity. He expressed confidence that SIM Tripura will integrate Artificial Intelligence and digital tools into state programs, aligning with national priorities such as Digital India and Ease of Living reforms. Technology, he said, must promote equity by reaching the unreached and empowering the underserved.
Calling innovation a collective responsibility, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the goal is to build an ecosystem where a student in a remote village, a startup founder in a small town and a researcher in a state university feel equally empowered to contribute to India’s development. He urged greater participation from the private sector, adding that sectors once considered closed, including nuclear energy, have now been opened to wider collaboration.
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