Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management Inaugurates ACIC Sahyadri Foundation to Strengthen Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Coastal Karnataka
- New Atal Community Innovation Centre to Support Grassroots Innovators, Entrepreneurs and Startups from Idea to Commercialisation
Mangaluru, September 8, 2026: Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, Mangaluru, marked a significant milestone in its innovation journey with the inauguration of the ACIC Sahyadri Foundation, an Atal Community Innovation Centre supported by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, Government of India.
The Centre has been established with the vision of strengthening grassroots innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods across Coastal Karnataka.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Capt. Ganesh Karnik, Army Veteran and former MLC, as the Chief Guest, and Ms Deepakshi Jindal of the 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, ecosystem partners and members of the regional entrepreneurial community.
The proceedings 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 Mr 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 retain their curiosity, question existing practices, experiment and develop strong hands-on problem-solving capabilities.
He emphasised the importance of identifying challenges specific to local regions and developing solutions that create meaningful social and economic impact.
Ms Deepakshi Jindal highlighted the immense potential for innovation emerging from Tier-2, Tier-3 and Tier-4 regions of India, particularly by leveraging local strengths, traditional industries, crafts, tourism and grassroots economies.
She encouraged students and aspiring entrepreneurs to make effective use of ACIC Sahyadri to transform their ideas into viable products, ventures and startups, while taking advantage of government schemes and national-level innovation programmes.
Speaking about Sahyadri College’s innovation journey, Dr Manjappa Sarathy, Director – R&D, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, highlighted the institution’s commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, social innovation and project-based learning.
He emphasised the role of the institution’s innovation ecosystem in enabling students to progress from classroom ideas to functional products and successful startups. He also highlighted entrepreneurship as an important driver of regional wealth creation and economic development.
Dr S. S. Injaganeri, Principal, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, spoke about Sahyadri’s journey in social innovation and highlighted the importance of institutional support, faculty mentorship, government schemes and access to grants in nurturing successful ventures.
Presenting the vision of ACIC Sahyadri, Mr Dinu Anand R., CEO, ACIC Sahyadri Foundation, said that the Centre is envisioned as an end-to-end entrepreneurial support system for Coastal Karnataka.
The Centre will support entrepreneurs throughout their journey, from idea discovery and pre-incubation to incubation, product development, commercialisation, acceleration and scaling.
ACIC Sahyadri will promote livelihood entrepreneurship across both 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 access to government funding pathways to connect local challenges and resources with innovation and entrepreneurship.
ACIC Sahyadri will focus on four key areas:
Agritech, Rural Innovation and Blue Economy
ClimateTech, Sustainability and Circular Economy
HealthTech, DeepTech and Inclusive Technology
Tourism, Culture, Heritage and Creative Economy
The inauguration marks an important step towards building a more inclusive and impact-driven innovation ecosystem in Coastal Karnataka.
ACIC Sahyadri aims to enable students, entrepreneurs, grassroots innovators and communities to address regional challenges, build sustainable enterprises and create new livelihood opportunities. The Centre will support innovators throughout their journey—from identifying a problem to developing, commercialising and scaling solutions.
The programme also featured felicitation and token presentations in honour of dignitaries and contributors who have supported the innovation ecosystem.
The formal proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr S. S. Injaganeri, Principal, Sahyadri College of Engineering & Management, followed by a networking lunch that provided an opportunity for entrepreneurs, industry professionals, students, government representatives and ecosystem stakeholders to interact and explore future collaborations.
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 seeks to strengthen grassroots innovation and entrepreneurship across Coastal Karnataka by providing innovators and entrepreneurs with access to infrastructure, mentorship, technical capabilities, networks, government support and pathways to commercialisation.
Its vision is to transform local challenges into innovative solutions, sustainable enterprises and meaningful regional impact.
