**Executive Summary**
The Regional AIM SUMVAAD–North East Chapter 2026 was held on July 15, 2026, in Guwahati, Assam, to establish a collaborative roadmap for innovation-led growth across the eight Northeastern states. Organised by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and NITI Aayog, the conclave focused on aligning national initiatives with regional strengths to support the "Viksit Bharat @2047" vision. Key outcomes included strategies for strengthening incubation ecosystems, unlocking finance, and leveraging local resources like bamboo and traditional crafts.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Strategic Regional Development**
* The Northeast is positioned as a critical frontier for innovation and India’s gateway to Southeast Asia.
* The "Ashta Lakshmi" vision highlights the unique potential of the eight states to contribute to national growth through the "Act East to Act Fast" approach.
* Sustained engagement from NITI Aayog involves significant investments in infrastructure, connectivity, and economic development.
**Sector-Specific Innovation**
* **Bio-resources:** Focus on commercialising bamboo and bio-resource value chains.
* **Tourism:** Development of opportunities in technology-enabled sustainable eco-tourism.
* **Traditional Industry:** Strengthening grassroots livelihoods by integrating innovation into traditional handloom and handicraft clusters.
**Startup and Incubation Support**
* Emphasis on building resilient incubation ecosystems capable of supporting startups from the ideation stage to scaling.
* Identification of pathways to unlock corporate partnerships, market linkages, and financial resources for emerging entrepreneurs.
* Strengthening collaboration between state innovation councils, Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), and Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs).
**Ecosystem Collaboration**
* The event facilitated a common platform for policymakers, industry leaders, academia, and investors to synchronise efforts.
* A "Sabka Prayas" (collective effort) approach was identified as essential for the Northeast to lead India's innovation-led growth story.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments of the Northeast**
**Impact**
Governments are integrated into a national innovation framework, receiving support to align regional aspirations with national development goals.
**Action Required**
Coordinate with AIM and industry stakeholders to implement the collaborative roadmap for innovation-led growth.
**Startups and Entrepreneurs**
**Impact**
Emerging businesses gain better access to finance, mentorship through resilient incubators, and improved market linkages for their products.
**Action Required**
Leverage local strengths and natural resources to develop solutions and scale innovations for both domestic and global markets.
**Incubators (AICs and ACICs)**
**Impact**
These institutions are positioned as central hubs for nurturing the regional startup ecosystem and driving local development.
**Action Required**
Strengthen support systems to assist innovators in transitioning from the ideation phase to commercial scale.
**Industry and Investors**
**Impact**
New avenues are opened for corporate partnerships and investments in high-potential sectors like bamboo, eco-tourism, and handicrafts.
**Action Required**
Engage with regional startups and incubators to provide the capital and market access necessary for economic expansion.
Key Entities Referenced
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): A flagship initiative of the Government of India to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country.
NITI Aayog: The premier policy think tank of the Indian government that organized the regional conclave to chart an innovation-led growth roadmap.
Regional AIM SUMVAAD: A series of regional engagement platforms aimed at strengthening collaboration between state governments and innovation ecosystem stakeholders.
Northeast India: The central geographic focus comprising eight states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura) targeted for strategic innovation growth.
Viksit Bharat @2047: The long-term national vision to transform India into a developed nation by the year 2047, which the conclave aims to support.
NITI Aayog
Atal Innovation Mission Spearheads India's
Frontier Innovation Push at Regional AIM
SUMVAAD-North East Chapter 2026
प्रव तथ: 15 JUL 2026 12:36PM by PIB Delhi
As India's Northeast emerges as one of the most strategically significant frontiers in the nation's
innovation landscape, Regional AIM SUMVAAD–North East Chapter 2026, organised by Atal Innovation
Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, brought together policymakers, state governments, industry leaders,
academia, incubators and startup ecosystem enablers in Guwahati, Assam, to chart a collaborative
roadmap for innovation-led growth across the eight Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
The conclave assumed particular significance as the Northeast continues to emerge as India's gateway to
Southeast Asia and a region endowed with rich biodiversity, vibrant cultural heritage, bamboo resources,
traditional crafts and a rapidly growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Recognising these unique strengths,
AIM's regional engagement reaffirmed the region's position as a key driver of India's next phase of
innovation-led growth and an indispensable contributor to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
The inaugural session was graced by Dr. Joram Aniya, Member, NITI Aayog, as the Chief Guest,
alongside the Commissioner & Secretary, Government of Assam, who delivered the Special Address. In
her address, Dr. Aniya reiterated the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision of the Northeast as "Ashta
Lakshmi"—eight states, each possessing unique strengths and immense potential to contribute to India's
growth story. She highlighted the unprecedented national focus on the region, reflected in NITI Aayog's
sustained engagement with all eight Chief Ministers and the significant investments made towards
infrastructure, connectivity and economic development. Emphasising the transformative impact of the
"Act East to Act Fast" approach, she noted that the Northeast today stands at the centre of India's
development agenda and is poised to become a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and
sustainable growth.
Welcoming the participants, Sumit Gakhar, Head (Finance), Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog,
underscored AIM's commitment to strengthening collaboration between state governments, innovation
institutions, incubators and ecosystem stakeholders to unlock the region's innovation potential.
Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Deepak Bagla, said, "The Hon'ble Prime
Minister has described the Northeast as Ashta Lakshmi- a region whose immense talent, cultural richness,
natural resources and entrepreneurial spirit will play a defining role in India's journey towards Viksit
Bharat @2047. At Atal Innovation Mission, we are working to transform this vision into opportunity by
nurturing innovators, strengthening incubation ecosystems, and enabling young entrepreneurs to build
solutions from the Northeast for India and the world. When innovation is rooted in local strengths and
powered by Sabka Prayas, the Northeast will not only participate in India's growth story, it will help lead
it."The conclave witnessed active participation from representatives of all eight North Eastern State
Councils, alongside the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Department of Biotechnology
(DBT), Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), and Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs), during a
roundtable discussion on "Mobilizing the Innovation Ecosystem Stakeholders in the Region." The
discussions reflected the growing momentum behind collaborative innovation and reinforced the
importance of aligning national initiatives with regional aspirations.
The day-long programme featured dedicated sessions on state innovation initiatives and thematic
discussions centred on sectors where the Northeast holds distinctive competitive advantages. Dr. Tilak
Chandra Bhuyan, Senior Scientist & Consultant, North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council
(NECBDC), shared insights on commercialising bamboo and bio-resource value chains. Minha Riyaz
Khan, Project Lead, PRIME Meghalaya, MBMA, highlighted opportunities in technology-enabled
sustainable eco-tourism, while Dr. Sriparna Bhuyan Baruah, Director, Entrepreneurship & Innovation,
Royal Global University, Co-founder, Margdarshak Advisory, and former Advisor, NEHHDC, deliberated
on strengthening grassroots livelihoods through innovation in traditional handloom and handicraft
clusters.
Strengthening the region's incubation ecosystem formed another key focus of the conclave. A panel
moderated by Rachita Misra, Associate Director, AIC-Selco Foundation, brought together Col. Prabir
Sengupta, Group CEO, IIT Guwahati; Roshan Farhan, Founder & CEO, MyriadAI and Gobillion;
Moirangthem Seth, Founder & Managing Director, SNL Energy Solutions; and Prateek Deshmukh,
Program Lead, Atal Innovation Mission, to discuss strategies for building resilient incubation ecosystems
capable of supporting startups from ideation to scale.
Another panel, moderated by Dr. Tej Chingtham, CEO, AIC SMU TBI, explored pathways for unlocking
finance, corporate partnerships and market linkages for startups across the Northeast. The discussion
featured Ashish Agarwal, Senior Vice President-II & Head, New Economy Group, HDFC Bank; Pranta
Pratim Singha, Head, Corporate Planning & Strategy, Numaligarh Refinery Limited; Siddhartha P. Lahkar,
Manager, NEDFi; and Kautilya Basumatary, General Manager, Tata Foundation, Centre for Microfinance
and Livelihood, who deliberated on strengthening the financial and institutional support ecosystem for
emerging entrepreneurs in the region.
The programme concluded with a session on building resilient innovation ecosystems for enterprises and
local development, moderated by Rachita Misra, featuring Fazle Illahi, Founder & CEO, ERES, and
Seyielezo Putsure, Founder & Director, EduCentre, followed by a Vote of Thanks delivered by Prateek
Deshmukh, Program Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog.
Following successful engagements across the North, South, Central and East regions, Regional AIM
SUMVAAD–North East Chapter 2026 marked one of the most strategically significant chapters of the
SUMVAAD series. By bringing together policymakers, state governments, incubators, industry leaders,
investors, academia and entrepreneurs on a common platform, the conclave reinforced Atal Innovation
Mission's commitment to building an inclusive innovation ecosystem that reaches every corner of the
country. Anchored in the unique strengths of the Northeast and driven by collaboration, innovation and
entrepreneurship, the initiative reaffirmed the region's growing role in shaping India's journey towards
Viksit Bharat @2047.***
MJPS/SS/PRK
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