SAP, NITI Aayog collaborate to set up 100 Atal Tinkering Labs in schools

BANGALORE, INDIA: SAP has signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) with NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) in 2018 to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education among secondary school children across India, specifically in the states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

NITI Aayog introduced ATLs under AIM with an objective to build relevant skill sets among the youth and to provide access to technology that will enable innovative solutions. AIM has already selected 2441 schools to establish ATLs. 

The program aims to enable students to learn advanced technology topics relevant to digital transformation and the Internet of Things, e.g. Design Thinking methodology, introduction to programming languages and experiential science learning.

SAP employee volunteers will coach and mentor students in advanced technology topics, and the design lab of SAP Labs India, will provide trainings and allow students to gain hands-on experience with technology gadgets. SAP will also provide CSR grants through non-profit partners so that ATLs can provide students with holistic learning experiences that extend their school curriculum.

Acknowledging the importance of such collaborations, Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog, said, “India’s growth for the next few decades will depend on the innovations coming out of these tinkering labs. Tomorrow’s ideas come from students, who will disrupt industries and creative sectors with new technologies and processes which will thrust India into the leadership position for technological creativity and innovation. This is possible only through effective public-private partnership and we are delighted to have SAP partner with us on AIM to nurture the future talent of our country”.

Dilipkumar Khandelwal, President, SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud, SAP SE & Managing Director, SAP Labs India said, “This partnership with NITI Aayog is part of our ongoing effort towards promoting STEM education among the Indian youth and to equip them with relevant future ready IT skills. In addition, we look forward to working closely with Atal Innovation Mission to also train teachers and other stakeholder groups on the identified areas and design new technology courses and projects.”

NITI Aayog’s AIM envisions the creation of a collaborative ecosystem, where students, teachers, mentors and industry partners work to facilitate innovation, foster scientific temper and an entrepreneurial spirit in the children of today, who will go on to become successful contributors to nation-building tomorrow. 

Ramanathan Ramanan, Mission Director, AIM, added, “Such partnerships are a win-win situation for AIM and its partners. This partnership shall help support and boost innovations from the ATLs. The support to Atal Incubators will catalyze adoption of the innovations to commercial scales, ensuring deployment of the innovations to the domestic and international markets quickly and efficiently.”