**Executive Summary**
On May 15, 2026, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, inaugurated a dedicated Incubation Center for Startups in Weather and Climate during the ‘WISE-2026’ national meet. This initiative, part of the five-year ‘Mission Mausam’ rollout, aims to integrate private-sector innovation into India’s meteorological services to enhance climate resilience. The Ministry of Earth Sciences has invited entrepreneurs to utilize open-access data to develop hyperlocal solutions for safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**New Infrastructure and Strategic Initiatives**
* **Incubation Center:** Established at IITM Pune to foster technology development in weather and climate through public-private partnerships.
* **WISE-2026 Meet:** A landmark national event signaling a shift toward integrating startups into the atmospheric technology ecosystem.
* **National Enterprise for Atmospheric Technology (NEAT):** The overarching framework under ‘Mission Mausam’ that manages the new incubation facilities.
**Mission Mausam and the Four Pillars**
* **Five-Year Rollout:** An ambitious plan to scale weather forecasts and climate-scale insights using a "health system approach" across various ministries.
* **Pillars of Progress:** The strategy focuses on four essential areas: Observations, Modeling, User-specific Applications, and Dissemination.
* **Actionable Prediction:** A shift from traditional research to providing "weather intelligence" that offers practical tools for last-mile users.
**Resources and Collaboration**
* **Open Data Access:** The Ministry is providing "freely open" resources, including remote sensing and reanalysis data, to innovators.
* **Institutional Support:** Participation and mentorship from premier bodies including the IMD, NCMRWF, NCPOR, IISER Pune, and various IITs.
* **Broad Participation:** The launch event was attended by 400 individuals, including 100 aspiring startup founders focused on climate-tech innovation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Startups and Entrepreneurs**
**Impact**
They gain access to state-of-the-art incubation facilities, mentorship from national experts, and "freely open" atmospheric datasets.
**Action Required**
Innovators are encouraged to utilize Ministry resources to develop cost-effective, AI-driven, and hyperlocal solutions for critical sectors.
**Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and Research Institutions**
**Impact**
The organizations are transitioning from isolated research to an inclusive, multi-stakeholder ecosystem aimed at building a "weather-ready" nation.
**Action Required**
Institutions must operationalize Mission Mausam and facilitate public-private partnerships to bridge the gap between deep science and practical application.
**Critical Economic Sectors (Agriculture, Aviation, Renewable Energy, and Disaster Management)**
**Impact**
These sectors will benefit from improved "economic intelligence" through better food security tools, grid stability, and localized disaster warnings.
**Action Required**
Stakeholders in these domains need to collaborate with the startup ecosystem to integrate actionable climate predictions into their operational workflows.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission Mausam: A five-year rollout initiative aimed at scaling weather forecasts and climate-scale insights through a multi-stakeholder ecosystem to build a weather-ready and climate-smart nation.
National Enterprise for Atmospheric Technology (NEAT): A strategic vertical under Mission Mausam designed to foster technology development and public-private partnerships in the atmospheric sciences sector.
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune: The premier research institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences responsible for hosting the new climate-focused incubation center and the WISE-2026 meet.
Incubation Center for Startups in Weather and Climate: A dedicated facility established to integrate private-sector startups into India’s meteorological services and bridge the gap between deep science and practical application.
Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES): The primary governing ministry overseeing the operationalization of Mission Mausam and the advancement of India's meteorological infrastructure.
Ministry of Earth Sciences
IITM Pune Inaugurates State-of-the-Art
Incubation Center and Hosts Landmark ‘WISE-
2026’ Meet to Revolutionize Climate
Entrepreneurship
Posted On: 15 MAY 2026 5:21PM by PIB Delhi
The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES),
officially inaugurated its dedicated Incubation Center for Startups in Weather and Climate today. The
landmark event was marked by a one-day national meet titled ‘Weather and Climate Innovation Meet
for Startups and Entrepreneurs (WISE-2026)’, signaling a new era of private-sector integration in
India’s meteorological services.
The facility was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES. The ceremony
was also graced by Guest of Honour Dr. Shailesh Naik (Director NIAS & Former Secretary, MoES), Dr.
Suryachandra Rao (Director, IITM), and other distinguished dignitaries. The Incubation Center is a key
component of the National Enterprise for Atmospheric Technology (NEAT), an ambitious vertical
under MoES’s ‘Mission Mausam,’ designed to foster technology development through public-private
partnerships.
Highlighting the critical role of collective action in addressing climate challenges, the Secretary of the
Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. M. Ravichandran emphasized that the complexity of modern weather
patterns—amplified by climate change—requires a shift from traditional research to an inclusive, multi-
stakeholder ecosystem. He underscored that the newly launched Mission Mausam is a foundational step
toward building a "weather-ready and climate-smart nation," integrating advanced observations, AI-driven
modeling, and localized dissemination to safeguard lives.
Stressing the importance of bridging the gap between deep science and practical application, the Secretary
stated:
"The young entrepreneurs from different domains, they know needs of other stakeholders better. So we
need to collectively work together. That is why this collaboration will definitely lead to many solutions. It
is not only for economic necessity, but also it is important to save life and livelihood.
Four Pillars of Progress: The Secretary identified Observations, Modeling, User-specific
Applications, and Dissemination as the essential pillars to improve forecasting.
Mission Mausam: A five-year rollout aimed at scaling weather forecasts & climate-scale insights
through a "health system approach" involving various ministries and startups.
Call to Action: He invited innovators to utilize the Ministry’s "freely open" resources—including
remote sensing and reanalysis data—to develop cost-effective, hyperlocal solutions for sectors like
agriculture, aviation, and disaster management.The inauguration was followed by a high-level panel discussion that highlighted a strategic shift in
weather & climate science, moving from research to actionable, startup-driven solutions across critical
sectors like agriculture, renewable energy, health, and disaster management. Central to the event is the
recognition that "weather intelligence leads to economic intelligence," with innovators transforming
cutting-edge atmospheric data into practical tools for food security, grid stability, and urban resilience. By
fostering a high-energy environment for founders and researchers to collaborate, this WISE workshop
sessions emphasize that the future of climate resilience depends on "actionable prediction" and the ability
to bridge the gap between complex science and the last-mile user.
The event also underscores the operationalization of Mission Mausam, emphasizing a system-wide
approach where startups play a foundational role in building India’s climate infrastructure. Through
thematic panels moderated by experts from leading institutions like NCMRWF, IISER Pune, and various
IITs, WISE 2026 showcases a diverse ecosystem—ranging from hyperlocal forecasting to AI-driven
health interventions—aimed at safeguarding lives and livelihoods. As the discussions conclude, the
prevailing message is that climate-tech innovation is no longer a niche pursuit but a mainstream business
opportunity and a societal necessity, requiring deep interdisciplinary collaboration to remain inclusive,
scalable, and impactful.
The WISE 2026 inauguration and startup program witnessed a significant gathering of the climate-tech
community, drawing a total of 400 attendees for the opening ceremony. The event featured a robust
participation of 100 participants (aspiring founders of startup companies), all focused on translating
scientific data into practical, real-world impact.
This collaborative ecosystem was further strengthened by the presence of distinguished experts and
mentors from premier national institutions. Key participating organizations included the National Centre
for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), the India Meteorological Department (IMD),
and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR). Academic and research leadership
was represented by experts from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
(ICRISAT), IISER Pune, various IITs (including Delhi, Bombay, and Gandhinagar), and the Indian
Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).*****
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