Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog Launches AIM – ICDK Water Challenge 4.0 and SDG Entrepreneurs Handbook

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog, has announced two new initiatives: the ‘AIM – ICDK Water Challenge 4.0’ and the fifth edition of the ‘Innovations for You’ handbook, highlighting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) entrepreneurs in India.
In partnership with the Innovation Centre Denmark (ICDK) at the Royal Danish Embassy in India, AIM is introducing the fourth edition of this open innovation water challenge. This initiative is a key part of the Indo-Danish Green Strategic Partnership, focusing on addressing water-related issues with innovative solutions. The selected teams will represent India in the global Next Generation Digital Action program, collaborating with young talents from universities and innovation hubs across nine countries, including Denmark, Ghana, Kenya, Korea, Tanzania, South Africa, Colombia, and Mexico.
Participants in the program will embark on a hybrid innovation journey featuring group work, boot camps, keynote sessions, and personalized mentoring. This initiative promotes sustainability, digital solutions, inclusion, and universal design principles, encouraging active collaboration and knowledge sharing among participants. They will also have the opportunity to present their innovations at the Digital Tech Summit in Copenhagen on October 30-31, 2024, funded by the Danish government.
The challenge is open to students and young entrepreneurs under 35. Early-stage startups, researchers, and young innovators dedicated to environmental sustainability are encouraged to apply. The student track focuses on Digital Action for Societal Impact, while the Young Entrepreneurs track offers Indian technology startups a chance to accelerate their ideas and form global partnerships.
Dr. Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director of AIM, NITI Aayog, expressed excitement about the launch, stating, “These initiatives reflect our unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability, driving India towards a brighter, more resilient future. Collaborating with ICDK and the Royal Danish Embassy, we aim to tackle critical challenges and empower young innovators to create positive change.”
Soren Norrelund Kannik-Marquardsen, Minister Counsellor and Head of the Trade Council in New Delhi, emphasized the challenge’s role in the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark. He noted, “The Water Challenge combines the skills of Danish and Indian entrepreneurs to address global issues, highlighting the success and dedication of young innovators in building a sustainable world.”
Additionally, AIM has launched the fifth edition of ‘Innovations For You’, a coffee table book series showcasing the work of SDG Entrepreneurs in India. This edition features 60 entrepreneurs from various regions, each contributing to societal improvement through sustainable innovations, focusing on recyclable materials, green energy, inclusive education, and support for underrepresented communities and local artisans.