Kolkata, July 26, 2026: In a landmark step towards strengthening West Bengal’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, Techno India University today inaugurated AIC Techno – Atal Incubation Centre, the state’s first Atal Incubation Centre established under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog. The Centre was launched with the vision of nurturing entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers and changemakers while positioning West Bengal as a leading hub for innovation-driven growth.
The inauguration took place in the presence of Dr. Ashok Lahiri, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog; Swapan Dasgupta, Minister-in-Charge, Finance Department, Government of West Bengal; Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director, IIT Kharagpur; Meghdut RoyChowdhury, Executive Director & Chief Innovation Officer, Techno India Group, Chief Mentor, AIC Techno and Founder, Make Calcutta Relevant Again; and members of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Government of India.
Conceived under the leadership of Meghdut RoyChowdhury, AIC Techno has been envisioned as a world-class incubation platform dedicated to transforming innovative ideas into scalable businesses. The Centre reflects Techno India University’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, industry collaboration, research, and technology-led innovation while contributing to India’s growing startup ecosystem.
With an ambitious mission to incubate more than 500 startups over the next five years, AIC Techno will provide end-to-end support to entrepreneurs through strategic mentorship, business advisory services, investor readiness, funding access, product validation, market linkages, legal and intellectual property support, corporate partnerships, workshops, masterclasses, business clinics and networking opportunities.
Demonstrating the strong demand for structured incubation support in the state, AIC Techno received nearly 200 startup applications even before its official launch, underscoring the enthusiasm among aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators across the region.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Ashok Lahiri, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, said, “Innovation and entrepreneurship are among the strongest drivers of economic growth and employment generation. The launch of West Bengal’s first Atal Incubation Centre marks a significant milestone in strengthening the state’s innovation ecosystem and will provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the platform and support needed to build globally competitive enterprises.”
Speaking on the occasion, Meghdut RoyChowdhury, Executive Director & Chief Innovation Officer, Techno India Group, Chief Mentor, AIC Techno and Founder, Make Calcutta Relevant Again, said, “AIC Techno has been created with a vision to build an ecosystem where bold ideas are transformed into impactful enterprises. On behalf of Techno India University, we thank NITI Aayog for placing its trust in us by establishing the state’s first Atal Incubation Centre. For a region that has produced some of India’s finest scientific and entrepreneurial minds, the absence of national-grade incubation infrastructure has long been a quiet handicap. Today, that changes. Our goal is to nurture more than 500 startups over the next five years by providing entrepreneurs with the right mentorship, infrastructure, industry partnerships and access to capital. We believe West Bengal has immense entrepreneurial potential, and AIC Techno will play a pivotal role in unlocking that potential for the benefit of the state and the nation.”
Designed to support founders throughout every stage of their entrepreneurial journey—from idea validation and prototype development to market entry and business scale-up—the Centre will bring together academia, industry, investors, policymakers and innovators under one collaborative platform. Its incubation framework has been developed to help startups build sustainable business models while accelerating innovation, commercialization and long-term growth.
In addition to incubating startups, AIC Techno has also begun building its core team and invited applications for leadership and functional roles across incubation, operations, finance, legal, partnerships, programmes, investments, administration, and lab and makerspace management, reflecting the scale and long-term vision of the initiative.
The launch of AIC Techno marks a defining milestone in West Bengal’s startup journey and reinforces Techno India University’s commitment to fostering innovation-led entrepreneurship. By creating an enabling ecosystem for founders, researchers and innovators, the University aims to transform pioneering ideas into globally competitive ventures, contributing to economic growth, job creation and India’s vision of becoming a global innovation powerhouse.
