Sahyadri College inaugurates ACIC foundation to boost innovation and entrepreneurship in Coastal Karnataka

Sahyadri College inaugurates ACIC foundation to boost innovation and entrepreneurship in Coastal Karnataka

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, September 11, 2026: Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, Mangaluru, has inaugurated the ACIC Sahyadri Foundation, an Atal Community Innovation Centre (ACIC) supported by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Government of India, with the objective of strengthening grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship across Coastal Karnataka.

The new centre aims to support grassroots innovators, entrepreneurs and startups through the various stages of development, from idea generation and pre-incubation to incubation, commercialisation, acceleration and scaling.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Capt. Ganesh Karnik, Army veteran and former MLC, as the chief guest, and Deepakshi Jindal of Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, as the guest of honour.

The event brought together students, faculty members, startup founders, entrepreneurs, grassroots innovators, industry professionals, government representatives and ecosystem partners. The programme began with the inauguration of the ACIC facility, followed by a tour of Sahyadri’s innovation infrastructure, including Vkon Automation and Mphasis Labs.

The formal programme commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp and a welcome address by Johnson Tellis, CEO, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management.

Delivering the keynote address, Capt. Ganesh Karnik highlighted the growing opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship in India. He encouraged students to remain curious, question existing practices, experiment and develop practical problem-solving skills.

He also stressed the importance of identifying challenges specific to local communities and developing solutions that can create meaningful social and economic impact.

Deepakshi Jindal highlighted the potential for innovation in Tier-2, Tier-3 and Tier-4 regions, particularly by leveraging local strengths, traditional industries, crafts, tourism and grassroots economies.

She encouraged students and aspiring entrepreneurs to use ACIC Sahyadri to transform ideas into viable products, ventures and startups, while making effective use of government schemes and national innovation programmes.

Speaking about Sahyadri College’s innovation journey, Dr. Manjappa Sarathy, Director-R&D, said the institution has been focusing on innovation, entrepreneurship, social innovation and project-based learning.

He highlighted the role of the college’s innovation ecosystem in helping students transform classroom ideas into functional products and startups, while stressing the importance of entrepreneurship in regional wealth creation and economic development.

Dr. S.S. Injaganeri, Principal, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, also highlighted the institution’s work in social innovation and the importance of institutional support, faculty mentorship, government schemes and access to grants in nurturing successful ventures.

Presenting the vision of ACIC Sahyadri, Dinu Anand R, CEO, ACIC Sahyadri Foundation, said the centre would function as an end-to-end entrepreneurial support system for Coastal Karnataka.

The centre will support entrepreneurs from idea discovery and pre-incubation through incubation, product development, commercialisation, acceleration and scaling.

ACIC Sahyadri will promote livelihood entrepreneurship across traditional and emerging sectors, including fishing and allied activities, arecanut farming, small-scale manufacturing, traditional industries and high-technology ventures.

The centre will leverage Sahyadri College’s laboratories, technical infrastructure, mentorship ecosystem and government funding pathways to connect local challenges and resources with innovation and entrepreneurship.

Its focus areas include Agritech, Rural Innovation and Blue Economy; ClimateTech, Sustainability and Circular Economy; HealthTech, DeepTech and Inclusive Technology; and Tourism, Culture, Heritage and Creative Economy.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in Coastal Karnataka by enabling students, entrepreneurs, grassroots innovators and communities to address regional challenges, develop sustainable enterprises and create new livelihood opportunities.

The programme also featured the felicitation of dignitaries and contributors who have supported the region’s innovation ecosystem. The formal proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. S.S. Injaganeri, followed by a networking lunch for entrepreneurs, industry representatives, students, government officials and other stakeholders.

About ACIC Sahyadri Foundation

ACIC Sahyadri Foundation is an Atal Community Innovation Centre supported by the Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Government of India, and established at Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, Mangaluru.

The centre aims to promote grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship across Coastal Karnataka by providing innovators and entrepreneurs access to infrastructure, mentorship, technical expertise, networks, government support and pathways to commercialisation.