Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Launches First Overseas Atal Innovation Centre During UAE Visit

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today inaugurated India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre at the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus during his two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates. The visit, taking place on September 10-11, aims to deepen bilateral cooperation in education, foster academic excellence and innovation, and explore new avenues of partnership.
 
At the inaugural ceremony, Minister Pradhan also launched two key academic programs: a Ph.D. program in Energy and Sustainability and a B.Tech program in Chemical Engineering. He commended the collaborative efforts behind the project and engaged with students and faculty during his campus tour.
 
As part of the visit, the Minister held talks with Ms. Sara Musallam, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK). Discussions centered on strengthening educational cooperation, including support for Indian curriculum-based schools in the UAE and the establishment of Atal Innovation Labs for Indian schools in the Emirates, inspired by the success of Atal Tinkering Labs in India.
 
Key areas of focus included opening more Indian curriculum schools to serve the diaspora, promoting two-way student exchanges from school level upwards, curriculum development, teacher exchange programs, mutual recognition of qualifications, and alignment with new education policy priorities. Minister Pradhan acknowledged Ms. Musallam’s commitment to enhancing cooperation and underscored education as a vital pillar of the India-UAE partnership.
 
The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), under which the new centre has been established, is a flagship initiative to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in India. AIM serves as an umbrella framework to drive entrepreneurial policies, programs, and collaborative platforms across multiple sectors.
 
Minister Pradhan’s itinerary also includes attending the first anniversary celebration of Symbiosis University’s Dubai campus, further underscoring the growing footprint of Indian educational institutions in the region and strengthening India-UAE educational ties.