The conclave assumed particular significance as the Northeast continues to emerge as India's gateway to Southeast Asia and a region endowed with rich biodiversity, vibrant cultural heritage, bamboo resources, traditional crafts and a rapidly growing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Recognising these unique strengths, AIM's regional engagement reaffirmed the region's position as a key driver of India's next phase of innovation-led growth and an indispensable contributor to the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The inaugural session was graced by Dr. Joram Aniya, Member, NITI Aayog, as the Chief Guest, alongside the Commissioner & Secretary, Government of Assam, who delivered the Special Address. In her address, Dr. Aniya reiterated the Hon'ble Prime Minister's vision of the Northeast as "Ashta Lakshmi"-eight states, each possessing unique strengths and immense potential to contribute to India's growth story. She highlighted the unprecedented national focus on the region, reflected in NITI Aayog's sustained engagement with all eight Chief Ministers and the significant investments made towards infrastructure, connectivity and economic development. Emphasising the transformative impact of the "Act East to Act Fast" approach, she noted that the Northeast today stands at the centre of India's development agenda and is poised to become a global hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable.

Welcoming the participants, Sumit Gakhar, Head (Finance), Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, underscored AIM's commitment to strengthening collaboration between state governments, innovation institutions, incubators and ecosystem stakeholders to unlock the region's innovation potential.

Key details

Mission Director, Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Deepak Bagla, said, "The Hon'ble Prime Minister has described the Northeast as Ashta Lakshmi- a region whose immense talent, cultural richness, natural resources and entrepreneurial spirit will play a defining role in India's journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047. At Atal Innovation Mission, we are working to transform this vision into opportunity by nurturing innovators, strengthening incubation ecosystems, and enabling young entrepreneurs to build solutions from the Northeast for India and the world. When innovation is rooted in local strengths and powered by Sabka Prayas, the Northeast will not only participate in India's growth story, it will help lead it.

"The conclave witnessed active participation from representatives of all eight North Eastern State Councils, alongside the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), and Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs), during a roundtable discussion on "Mobilizing the Innovation Ecosystem Stakeholders in the Region." The discussions reflected the growing momentum behind collaborative innovation and reinforced the importance of aligning national initiatives with regional aspirations.

The day-long programme featured dedicated sessions on state innovation initiatives and thematic discussions centred on sectors where the Northeast holds distinctive competitive advantages. Dr. Tilak Chandra Bhuyan, Senior Scientist & Consultant, North East Cane and Bamboo Development Council (NECBDC), shared insights on commercialising bamboo and bio-resource value chains. Minha Riyaz Khan, Project Lead, PRIME Meghalaya, MBMA, highlighted opportunities in technology-enabled sustainable eco-tourism, while Dr. Sriparna Bhuyan Baruah, Director, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Royal Global University, Co-founder, Margdarshak Advisory, and former Advisor, NEHHDC, deliberated on strengthening grassroots livelihoods through innovation in traditional handloom and handicraft clusters.