• India expanded its global innovation footprint by inaugurating its first overseas Atal Innovation Centre (AIC) at the IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi campus in September 2025.
• The landmark event was led by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during his official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• The centre, part of the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), marks AIM’s first step beyond Indian borders and will serve as a hub for research, entrepreneurship, and knowledge exchange between India and the UAE.
• Two academic programmes were launched — a Ph.D. in Energy and Sustainability and a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering — aimed at nurturing skilled talent for addressing global challenges.
• Discussions between Minister Pradhan and Ms Sara Musallam, Chairperson of ADEK, focused on expanding Indian curriculum schools, establishing Atal Innovation Labs, promoting student-teacher exchanges, and ensuring mutual recognition of academic qualifications.
• The initiative aligns with India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, emphasising innovation, research, and international collaboration.
• The Abu Dhabi centre strengthens the India–UAE partnership while expanding AIM’s global outreach.
• The visit also included the first anniversary celebration of Symbiosis University’s Dubai campus, highlighting the growing presence of Indian higher education institutions in the Gulf region.