Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management in Mangaluru has opened the ACIC Sahyadri Foundation—the Atal Community Innovation Centre, supported by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog, Government of India. This center will provide a new resource for coastal Karnataka, enabling local ideas to progress from early-stage development to commercialization.
The center is designed to support aspiring innovators, entrepreneurs, students, and startups across coastal Karnataka. This support includes providing infrastructure, mentorship, technical expertise, access to networks, and opportunities for government funding.
The inauguration of the center took place on September 8, 2026. Attendees included Captain Ganesh Karnik, a veteran of the army and former MLC member, as well as Dipakshi Jindal from Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog.
ACIC Sahyadri is designed as a comprehensive support system for entrepreneurs. It covers all stages of activity: from idea generation and pre-incubation to incubation, product development, commercialization, acceleration, and business scaling.
Furthermore, the center will focus on livelihood-oriented entrepreneurship, covering both traditional and emerging sectors. These include fishing and related activities, arecanut cultivation, small-scale manufacturing, traditional industries, and high-tech enterprises.
Dinu Anand R, CEO of ACIC Sahyadri Foundation, stated that 'ACIC Sahyadri is conceived as a comprehensive entrepreneurial support system for coastal Karnataka.'
The center will utilize the laboratory facilities, technical infrastructure, and mentorship ecosystem of Sahyadri College to connect local problems with technology and entrepreneurship.
The center's activities will be structured around four key areas: healthtech, deeptech agritech, rural innovations, and blue economy; climate technologies, sustainable development, and circular economy, as well as inclusive technologies; and tourism, culture, heritage, and creative economy.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dipakshi Jindal emphasized the significant potential for innovation in second, third, and fourth-tier regions, especially through local manufacturing, tourism, handicrafts, and grassroots economy. She urged students and future entrepreneurs to leverage the center's opportunities to transform ideas into products, ventures, and startups, utilizing government programs and national innovation initiatives.
Captain Ganesh Karnik also strongly advised students to maintain curiosity, question existing practices, and develop practical problem-solving skills. He stressed the importance of identifying problems specific to local communities and creating solutions capable of generating social and economic impact.
Sahyadri College reported that the new center continues the college's focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, social innovation, and project-based learning. Dr. Manjappa Sarathi, Director of R&D at Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, noted that the institution's innovative ecosystem aims to help students transform classroom ideas into working products and startups.
Dr. S.S. Indjaganeri, Director of Sahyadri College, also highlighted the role of faculty mentorship, institutional support, government schemes, and grants in business development. Through ACIC Sahyadri, the college intends to extend this support beyond the campus, reaching entrepreneurs and communities across coastal Karnataka. The ultimate goal of the center is to help local innovators identify problems, develop solutions, and create businesses that can generate earning opportunities in the region.